The Office of the Ombudsman has formally directed Vice President Sara Duterte and nine other officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to submit their counter-affidavits in response to charges filed by the House of Representatives over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
In an order issued Thursday, a copy of which was obtained by GMA Integrated News, the Ombudsman gave the respondents 10 days from receipt of the order to file their written responses, including the affidavits of witnesses and any supporting documents. The order also emphasized that failure to comply would be considered a waiver of the right to present evidence, allowing the preliminary investigation to proceed without their input.
The Ombudsman stated it would not accept any motions to dismiss or requests for a bill of particulars, effectively limiting the legal maneuvers available to Duterte and her co-respondents at this stage.
The charges stem from a House complaint filed earlier this week, based on findings by the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability. The committee recommended filing multiple charges, including plunder, technical malversation, falsification of public documents, perjury, bribery, corruption, betrayal of public trust, and violation of the Constitution.
Central to the complaint is the alleged improper use of ₱500 million in confidential funds by the OVP and an additional ₱112.5 million by the DepEd from 2022 to 2024, during Duterte’s concurrent leadership of both agencies.
Alongside Duterte, officials named in the case from DepEd include Edward Fajarda and Gina Acosta (Special Disbursing Officers), Assistant Secretary Atty. Sunshine Charry Fajarda, Undersecretary for Administration, retired Major General Nolasco Mempin, and Undersecretary for Finance Service Annalyn Sevilla.
From the OVP, the respondents include the Undersecretary and the Chief of Staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio, Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG), and Col. Raymund Dante Lachia, Commander of the VPSPG.
The issue of alleged fund misuse is also one of the key points in the impeachment complaint filed against Duterte in the Senate. The Vice President has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.