405 recipients of confi fund from VP Duterte have no PSA birth record —Chua

At least 405 out of the 677 individuals who received confidential funds from the Office of Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education under Vice President Sara Duterte have no birth record based on Philippine Statistics Authority data, a House leader announced Monday. 

House good government and public accountability panel chairperson Rep. Joel Chua was referring to the 677 individuals who received the confidential funds as stated in the acknowledgement receipts submitted by the OVP and DepEd to the Commission on Audit for liquidation. 

“Tayo ay sumulat upang isumite ang 677 pang pangalan na nakalagay sa acknowldgement receipts kung saan tayo po ay binigyan ng tugon ng Philippine Statistics Authority dated December 8, 2024. Dito [ay] kanila pong sinasabi na out of 677 individuals, 405 ay walang birth certificate o walang record sa birth certificate, o pwede nating sabihin na non-existent,” Chua said.

Earlier, the PSA said that a certain Mary Grace Piattos, a recipient of confidential funds as stated acknowledgment receipts, has no birth, marriage, or death record in their database.

The Chua-led panel probe earlier revealed that the OVP and DepEd under Duterte submitted erroneous acknowledgement receipts with wrong dates and non-legible signatories, among others.

The Vice President has repeatedly said that she has never misused public funds, and the probe is just a test run for the filing of impeachment case against her.

Since then, two impeachment complaints have been filed against the Vice President mainly due to alleged betrayal of public trust, accusing her of misusing confidential funds, among others.

In Jonathan Andal’s Monday report on "24 Oras," some recipients of confidential funds have records in the PSA but have similar names. 

Among those who have no birth records is a certain “Kokoy Villamin,” who received confidential funds from the DepEd and OVP but has different signatures on the receipts. 

The House panel also questioned new receipts where a certain “Alice Cresecio” is the payee but has different signatures and addresses.

Meanwhile, “Sally” and “Shiela” have the same signatures.

“Medyo kalokohan na po ito. Itong mga taga-pirma o tagagawa nitong mga ARs na ito ay hindi coordinated. And because of this Mr. Chair, I believe that this receipt was again merely fabricated,” Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said.

(This is ridiculous. The ones who wrote and signed the acknowledgment receipts were not coordinated. And because of this Mr. Chair, I believe this receipt was again merely fabricated.)

The Congress also listed the possible charges those involved in the past seven Committee hearings may face.

This includes technical malversation, bribery, corruption of public officer, falsification of documents, perjury, and plunder.

“Kapag hinanap sayo kung nasaan ‘yung funds or nasaan napunta at wala kang masagot, the law presumes na binulsa mo,” Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon said. 

(If someone is looking for the funds and you cannot show them where it is, the law presumes you took it.)

The lawmakers are looking at where the P612.5 million was spent.

The House good government and public accountability panel wrapped up its investigation to give way to the impeachment process against the Vice President, which also tackles the alleged misuse of confidential funds in her offices.

However, ACT Teacher’s party-list Rep. France Castro questioned this move.

“Bakit itinigil natin doon. Bakit hindi natin ipinatawag yung dalawang security officer na involved o tumanggap?” Castro said. 

(Why did we stop there? Why did we not summon the two security officers involved?)

“Nagsalita na rin po ang AFP na nagkakaroon na rin po sila ng internal investigation,” Chua replied.

(The Armed Forces of the Philippines also said they are conducting an internal investigation.)

“Wala rin po akong tiwala na magkakaoron ng partial investigation patungo doon dahil alam natin tauhan nila ang involved,” Castro said. 

(I do not trust that there will be a partial investigation regarding that since we know it is their personnel.)

Chua, however, clarified that his committee would continue investigating the regular fund use of the OVP and DepEd under the leadership of the Vice President.

“The only [inquiry] we concluded is on the confidential fund. But insofar as the other fund is concerned...the committee is not only tied to the confidential fund. The Confidential Fund is just part of the manifestation [by the House members needing inquiry] and the privilege speech [seeking inquiry],” Chua said in a press conference.

GMA Integrated News has reached out to the Vice President and the AFP for comments. —With Mariel Celine Serquiña/AOL/LDF/NB, GMA Integrated News