Vice President Sara Duterte is facing plunder, graft, and multiple administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds — issues that also formed part of her earlier impeachment case, later archived by the Senate.
The complaint was filed on December 12 by civil society leaders, including 2025 Ramon Magsaysay awardee Fr. Flaviano Villanueva and former Finance undersecretary Cielo Magno.
Among the allegations are plunder, bribery, malversation, culpable violation of the Constitution, and betrayal of public trust. Fourteen officials from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education were also named, including chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and former undersecretary Michael Poa.
According to the filing, “entire cash advances were turned over to unbonded AFP officers designated by the vice president, despite these officers having no legal authority to receive government funds,” with repeated transfers described as serious misuse of state resources.
In a 2024 House hearing, OVP officer Gina Acosta admitted releasing ₱125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica on Duterte’s instruction. DepEd’s Edward Fajarda likewise testified to disbursing millions to Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco.
Complainants also flagged fictitious names in acknowledgement receipts — such as “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Nova,” and “Oishi” — along with testimonies of former DepEd officials allegedly receiving monthly cash envelopes ranging from ₱12,000 to ₱50,000, which they said constituted bribery.
Villanueva stressed that confidentiality cannot shield misuse.
“Hindi dapat magtago ang isang taong gumamit ng confidential funds sa confidential nature. Accountability takes precedence before the confidential funds,” he said.
Duterte was impeached by the House in February, but the Senate archived the case in August after a Supreme Court ruling on the one-year bar rule.
Magno said they expect the Ombudsman to order the AMLC to examine Duterte’s bank records, calling the complaint a legitimate accountability mechanism.
The vice president has yet to issue a statement.