Mary Sophia Angela Buenavidez

Vice President Sara Duterte may be facing two impeachment grounds with graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust, due to her alleged misuse of confidential funds according to Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua.

Photo Courtesy of Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“Once proven or impeached, that’s the time for cases to be filed against the vice president”, said Chua.

In a news release last Monday, the chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability told the press that the P16 million and P15 million budget used for safe houses and a youth summit as presented in the Office of Vice President’s accomplishment report respectively may be seen as a liability unless justified.

The vice president may also be guilty of violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, and other high crimes, all grounds for possible impeachment.

Duterte and her camp have yet to provide a statement amidst impeachment rumors.

Earlier in the year, the P16 million budget for safe houses was revealed to be used in just 11 days, from December 21 to 31. 

Chua added, “we do not know if it was actually used for rentals [due to lack of details]”. 

Lack of proper documentation for the safe house payments was called to attention due to illegible handwriting or the use of only signatures and initials instead of full names giving difficulty in identity verification.

“We are all wondering where the P15 million went. There is a certification, but the Army admitted that it did not go to them”, the representative continued.

Duterte clarified that the funds were used for handling “supporting information” about “children at risk” in areas determined by Deped from reports instead during her press conference last October 18 yet claims were debunked as certification received by COA confirmed the release of these funds to the Army.

Chua also informed the reporters that they are still assessing plunder cases to be included and filed against the vice president due to the Php 73 million budget misused by the OVP for expenditures for relief goods and medicines. 

A plunder case may be filed when an ill-gotten wealth sums to the amount of Php 50 million stated in the Republic Act 7080. Once justified for impeachment, the case shall be presented to the House Office of Justice.

The House of Representatives must secure at least one-third of the vote for referral to the Senate. The official will then be tried in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote is required for impeachment.