Manila: The House Committee on Justice has officially incorporated the documentary and digital records from the 19th Congress into its impeachment proceedings concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). This decision was formalized on Tuesday, following a motion by Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, the Justice panel's chair.
According to Philippines News Agency, Manila Representative Joel Chua, who led the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability during the 19th Congress, authenticated the records, emphasizing his firsthand involvement in the previous hearings. Chua clarified that his validation was not based on secondhand information, as he had personally overseen the hearings that produced these records.
"I was the chairperson during the 19th Congress of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability," Chua stated. "I was also there every hearing, and so I believe that I would be able to confirm these documents as I was the one who instructed the Committee Secretary to issue the transcripts." He asserted that the records' authenticity should not be questioned, as they were compiled under the original committee's authority.
Chua formally moved to incorporate the 19th Congress records into the current proceedings, linking the impeachment inquiry to the existing documentary evidence from prior hearings on the confidential funds issue. This motion was supported by Legislative Archives and Museum Management Service Director Marivic Pareja, who clarified her office's role in the custody and preservation of records, noting that she was not responsible for validating their content.
Gerville Luistro summarized the motion and highlighted that the materials, including both paper and digital files, had been transmitted to the committee secretary. These records had been previously turned over by Pareja, ensuring their readiness for inclusion in the Justice panel's official record.
The previous hearings provided detailed testimony on the handling of confidential funds, featuring sworn accounts from former DepEd undersecretary Gloria Jumamil Mercado and former Bids and Awards Committee chair Resty Osias. Both witnesses linked cash envelopes to officials associated with then Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
By adopting these records, the Justice panel now has expedited access to previous testimonies, submitted exhibits, and the institutional memory of the House concerning the confidential funds controversy, which is central to the ongoing impeachment case.
