Akbayan Party-list Representative Chel Diokno addressed online attacks on Tuesday, August 11, refuting claims linking him to controversial acknowledgment receipts (ARs) in the misuse of confidential funds.
Anti-impeachment trolls targeted the lawmaker after the name “Jose Diokno, Jr.” appeared on liquidations for ₱612.5 million in confidential funds disbursed by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) between December 2022 and the third quarter of 2023. The documents emerged during the ongoing Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Diokno corrected the misidentification and dismissed the accusations.
”Matagal na nilang ginagamit ang isyung ito para sirain ang pangalan ko. Linawin ko lang: Jose Manuel Diokno ang pangalan ko, hindi Jose Diokno, Jr.,” Diokno clarified.
Turning the argument against his critics, the lawmaker used their logic to highlight the broader issue surrounding the funds.
”Pero sige, pagbigyan natin ang mga trolls,” he wrote. “Kung sinasabi niyong nakatanggap ako ng confidential funds, eh ‘di inamin n’yo na rin na mali ang paggastos ni VP Sara dito ????”
House members have repeatedly questioned the authenticity of the ARs, citing highly suspicious and unusual names that suggest the ₱612.5 million was unaccounted for or misappropriated.
These irregularities form part of Article I of the impeachment complaint against Duterte, which alleges the systematic misuse of public funds as grounds for culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.
Diokno firmly denied any connection to the Vice President or the funds in question.
”Kailanman hindi ako nakatanggap ng confidential funds. At kailanman hindi ako naging ahente ng Bise Presidente,” Diokno stressed.