Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co pushed back against claims that the ongoing impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte is politically motivated, stressing that the proceedings are focused strictly on determining accountability for the alleged misuse of public funds.
Speaking as a spokesperson for the House prosecution panel, Co asserted that the core objective of the trial is to uncover the truth regarding the handling of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds.
“Well, wala pong politicized dito other than ‘yung gusto nating ma-uncover ay ‘yung pera. Political decision po kung saan pupunta ‘yan eh. Kung nagpunta ‘yan sa bulsa nang hindi tama o kaya sa serbisyo na dapat matatamasa at nararamdaman ng mamamayan,” Co stated.
The lawmaker explained that Article I of the impeachment complaint specifically examines whether the confidential funds were utilized appropriately and to the benefit of the Filipino people.
“Ang ina-assess natin, napunta ba talaga ito sa mamamayan o nagamit nga ba sa sinabing purpose ng confidential at intelligence funds?” she added.
Co noted that testimonies delivered before the Senate Impeachment Court have built a strong case regarding how the funds were managed.
She highlighted statements from former Office of the Vice President (OVP) Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, who testified that Duterte directly ordered her to turn over ₱500 million in confidential funds to her chief security officer, Col. Raymund Dante Lachica—an official not legally designated as an authorized accountable officer for those funds.
She also pointed to official documents presented in court bearing Duterte’s signature regarding the request and intended allocation of the funds, as corroborated by OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio.
“So lahat po ito ay nagbi-build up na may pananagutan po si VP sa hindi tama na paggasta na galing sa pera ng taumbayan na hindi pa natin nahahanap hanggang ngayon kung nasaan itong ₱612 million pesos,” Co explained.
“Hindi po ito sa kung sinu-sino lang nanggaling (nagsabi). Nanggaling na ito sa mga witnesses na ang inaasahan natin ay dedepensahan si VP Sara,” she added, referring to Acosta and Ortonio, both of whom were designated as hostile witnesses.
Co reiterated that the prosecution remains focused on completing the trial to establish the facts and ensure public accountability.