Duterte dinepensahan ang paggastos ng confidential funds | NewsWatch Reports

Summary

In a public hearing, Vice President Sara Duterte and officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) addressed the controversial disbursement of millions in confidential funds. Duterte defended the actions of her team, explaining the roles of Special Disbursing Officers (SDOs) and security officers in managing the funds. However, conflicting statements raised concerns about accountability and transparency, particularly regarding the preparation of an accomplishment report. Legal issues also surfaced about the responsibilities outlined in a 2015 circular, pointing to the need for clearer oversight and procedures in handling confidential government funds.

Takeaways

• 😀 Vice President Sara Duterte defended the disbursement of confidential funds, explaining that the process followed the official agency structure.
• 😀 Duterte explained that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) used Special Disbursing Officers (SDOs) and security officers to release the funds.
• 😀 Duterte stated that confidential funds should not be publicly questioned, as doing so could endanger the lives of security personnel involved in sensitive operations.
• 😀 Two SDOs from the OVP and DepEd admitted to disbursing funds following Duterte's orders during the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability hearing.
• 😀 The total amount in question was ₱37.5 million in confidential funds, which was signed off by Duterte but raised concerns during the hearing about its management.
• 😀 There was confusion and contradiction about the responsibility for handling the funds, with conflicting claims about whether Colonel Dante La Chica or SDO Gina Acosta was responsible for the accomplishment report.
• 😀 Representative Jink Luistro questioned the legitimacy of the accomplishment report, as it was unclear how a security officer could generate the report.
• 😀 The 2015 Joint Circular from the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarifies that SDOs, not security officers, are responsible for managing and reporting on confidential funds.
• 😀 SDO Gina Acosta clarified that she was simply following the instructions given by Colonel La Chica, but this was seen as contradictory to the official documents.
• 😀 The hearing paused when SDO Gina Acosta experienced a health issue and her blood pressure rose, leading to the temporary lifting of the detention order for her and other officials involved in the case.

Q & A

What was Vice President Sara Duterte's response to the allegations about the disbursement of confidential funds?

Vice President Sara Duterte defended the disbursement of confidential funds by explaining that the structure involved special disbursing officers (SDOs) and security officers, and that the release of the funds was part of the agency's work. She argued that questioning the use of confidential funds could compromise the security personnel involved in operations.

What did Duterte say about the public discussion of confidential funds?

Duterte stated that confidential funds should not be discussed publicly, as doing so could potentially jeopardize the safety of security personnel. She emphasized that these funds were a normal part of the agency's responsibilities.

Who was responsible for the disbursement of the 37.5 million pesos, and what was the explanation given about its use?

The disbursement of the 37.5 million pesos was authorized by Vice President Duterte. However, it was the security officer, Denis Nolasco, who reportedly knew how the funds were used. The funds were reportedly given to Colonel Dante La Chica, Commander of the Vice Presidential Security Group (VPSG), who then provided an object of expenditures in the form of an accomplishment report.

What was the contradiction mentioned during the committee hearing regarding the preparation of the accomplishment report?

There was a contradiction regarding who was responsible for preparing the accomplishment report. While Vice President Duterte's explanation was that Colonel La Chica was responsible, the report was officially marked as prepared by Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, which raised questions about accountability.

What role does a Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) play in the disbursement of funds according to the 2015 joint circular?

According to the 2015 joint circular from the Commission on Audit and the Department of Budget and Management, the Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) is responsible for the disbursement of funds, including confidential funds, and must also submit liquidation and quarterly accomplishment reports. The security officer does not hold responsibility in this regard.

What happened to Gina Acosta during the hearing?

Gina Acosta's blood pressure reportedly spiked during the hearing, which led to her temporary release from detention. She, along with other officials from the Office of the Vice President, had been under a detention order but were allowed to attend the hearing.

How did Vice President Duterte address the issue of accountability for the confidential funds?

Vice President Duterte defended the structure of the disbursement process, stating that the responsibilities were clearly divided among the security officers, SDOs, and agency heads. She suggested that the questioning of fund usage should be handled with discretion to avoid compromising security operations.

What does the term 'confidential funds' imply in the context of this hearing?

In the context of this hearing, 'confidential funds' refer to funds allocated for activities related to national security and other sensitive operations. These funds are meant to remain undisclosed to the public to protect the integrity of security operations.

What did Representative Jink Luistro question during the hearing?

Representative Jink Luistro questioned how an 'accomplishment report' could be created if the funds were just recently distributed. She raised concerns about the legitimacy of the accomplishment report submitted by the Office of the Vice President.

When is the continuation of the committee hearing scheduled?

The continuation of the committee hearing is scheduled for Friday, as confirmed by Vice President Duterte. She expressed her availability to provide more information at that time.