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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Plunder, other criminal charges filed vs VP Sara, other officials on 'misuse' of P612.5-M confi funds

Plunder, other criminal charges filed vs VP Sara, other officials on 'misuse' of P612.5-M confi funds

Published Dec 12, 2025 02:35 pm
Plunder and other criminal charges were filed before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against Vice President Sara Duterte and 14 other officials in the alleged misuse of P612.5 million confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (VP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was education secretary.
Aside from plunder under Republic Act No. 7080 as amended by RA 7659, those charged were also accused of violations of Articles 210 and 212 of the Revised Penal Code on bribery; Sections 3(a) and (e) of R.A. No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; Article XI, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution on betrayal of public trust; and culpable violation of the Constitution.
Also charged were Duterte’s Chief of Staff Zuleika T. Lopez, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel G. Ortonio, Director for Administrative and Financial Service Rosalynne L. Sanchez, Chief Accountant Julieta L. Villadelrey, Special Disbursing Officer Gina F. Acosta, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group Commander Col. Raymund Dante P. Lachica, Head of Procuring Entity Michael Wesley T. Poa, Director for Strategic Management Office Sunshine Charry A. Fajarda, Undersecretary for Finance Service Annalyn M. Sevilla, former head of Procurement Entity Gloria Mercado, Chief Accountant Ma. Rhunna L. Catalan, former special disbursing officer Edward D. Fajarda, former undersecretary for administration Ret. Maj. Gen. Nolasco A. Mempin, and VPSG member Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco.
The complaints were filed on Friday, Dec, 12 by 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, running priest Fr. Roberto Reyes, former presidential adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, UP Professor Emerita Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, economist and former Department of Finance undersecretary Dr. Maria Cielo Magno, writer and anti-corruption advocate Christopher Cabahug, and youth leaders Matthew Christian Silverio and John Lloyd Crisostomo.
The complaints stated that Duterte implemented an "identical, systematic scheme" between the OVP and DepEd to circumvent established laws and procedures governing confidential funds."
The complainants alleged that confidential funds were used for national security matters, and Duterte's staff would spend these on persons named in Acknowledgement Receipts.
However, the complainants pointed out that these individuals were non-existent as the names used made reference to snack names -- "Mary Grace Piattos," "Nova," and "Oishi."
They claimed that Duterte directed the scheme through Acosta, Villadelrey, Ortonio, Sanchez, and Lachica in the OVP.
"Acting on her (Duterte’s) instructions, respondents Acosta prepared and encashed the disbursement vouchers while respondents Villadelrey, Ortonio, and Sanchez certified and approved them despite the absence of required documentation," they also alleged.
They added that entire cash advances were turned over to unbonded Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers who were designated by Duterte, even if these officers have no legal authority to receive government funds.
At the DepEd, the complainants alleged that Duterte implemented the same scheme with the help of Edward and Sunshine Fajardo, Catalan, Sevilla, Mercado, Mempin, and Nolasco.
It was Edward Fajardo who prepared and encashed the vouchers, while Catalan signed them without supporting documents, they said.
They also claimed that it was Sunshine Fajardo who routed the vouchers for Duterte’s approval, and thereafter, Sevilla and Mercado issued the checks.
Also, they alleged that it was Nolasco who received and controlled the cash proceeds and disbursed them to unverifiable recipients.
"The essential documentation for these disbursements - specifically, the vouchers and liquidation reports - were executed with distinct irregularity, justified only by the claim of respondent Duterte's subordinates that such actions were the instructions of respondent Duterte," the complaints alleged.
They also alleged: "This was not merely a procedural lapse. The scheme effectively siphoned public funds from government coffers into the hands of non-existent recipients, for purposes already funded and appropriated for in other agencies. By design, these transactions evaded the standard scrutiny of state auditors, leaving the disposition of these funds entirely unexplainable."
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