House prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte questioned her past use of confidential funds, noting that her office continues to conduct similar community activities today without them.
During a press briefing on Wednesday, House prosecutor and Bukidnon Representative Keith Flores pointed to testimony from Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Xylene Del Campo.
Audit documents revealed that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) had previously cited events like tree planting, Christmas parties, and road-safety projects to justify its confidential expenditures.
Flores noted that the Vice President still carries out these identical routines safely and successfully despite no longer having access to confidential funds.
“Yet we still see the VP doing the same activities now, tree planting, Christmas party, and other activities na walang confidential funds,” Flores said.
“Successful naman. Safe naman yung activities, di ba? So why need to spend this much for activities na ginagawa niya pa rin daily ngayon na wala naman siyang confidential funds?” he added.
Flores argued that the ongoing execution of these events undermines claims that millions in confidential funds were required to protect the Vice President during routine appearances.
Echoing these concerns, prosecution panel spokesperson and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong asserted that routine security protocols by established law enforcement agencies are more than sufficient for such events without drawing on specialized funds.
“You cannot just replicate what they have been doing regularly,” Adiong said.
“If she attends the Davao inauguration, whatever bridge that they want to inaugurate, kayang-kayang ng police work. You don’t need to spend millions for that,” Adiong added.
The prosecution continues to present witnesses and evidence to substantiate allegations regarding the Vice President’s misuse of confidential funds.