Malacañang confirmed that the inquiry into the confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte and her office is now in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman.
This clarification was made by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro on Tuesday, October 21, when asked about a group’s appeal for Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla to investigate the Vice President’s confidential funds from 2022 to 2023.
“It’s in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman,” said Castro.
In a Facebook post dated Monday, October 20, advocacy group Tindig Pilipinas urged the Ombudsman to look into the confidential funds of both the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and VP Sara Duterte herself.
“Today we, along with different citizen impeachment complainants against the Vice President, submitted a letter to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, urging him to conduct a thorough investigation into the grave allegations that are the basis of the impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President,” the group said.
They added, “The Vice President must also fully explain how the confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education were used, just as we demand accountability from those involved in the ghost flood control projects that plundered the nation’s coffers.”
The group further stressed, “We call for a comprehensive and impartial investigation – not only to uphold the rule of law, but to restore integrity and public trust in our institutions.”
Recently, Ombudsman Remulla also clarified his stance on the publication of politicians’ Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), following reports that he would begin by reviewing VP Sara’s SALN.
“Ang gagawin natin d’yan sa SALN issue, hindi lang isa ‘yan, lahat ‘yan. Ire-reduct lang natin ‘yong dapat i-reduct, that’s a data privacy. Siyempre hihingi tayo sa lahat ng requesting parties undertaking na hindi gagamitin ito sa paraan na hindi makakabuti sa bayan. Kasi baka mamaya, maging political noise lang ‘yan at maging poison lang. Baka naman pag-isipan natin ulit ‘yan,” said Remulla.
VP Sara, for her part, responded by saying she would entrust everything to God, including whatever actions the Ombudsman may take.
“’Wag na niya silipin, ‘wag na niya silipin. Ilagay na niya sa harap niya at pag-aralan na niya nang maayos, kung ano man ‘yong gusto niyang gawin. Ipagpasa-diyos na lang natin siya at ang kaniyang mga gagawin bilang Ombudsman,” the Vice President said.