Manila: Malaca±ang on Wednesday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to return to the Philippines to resume serving Filipinos and prove regularity on the use of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds. In a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro advised Duterte to return home and shed light on how the OVP spent these funds.
According to Philippines News Agency, Castro emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds, urging Duterte to address the questions surrounding the OVP’s financial activities. “Kung ito man po ay nadiskubre po, siguro po mas paigtingin pa po talaga ang pag-iimbestiga patungkol po dito. Bakit po? Kasi karapatan po ng taumbayan malaman kung saan po talaga ginagasta ang pera ‘no, ang pondo ng bayan, ang kaban ng bayan kung saan po nadadala,” Castro stated, highlighting the people’s right to know where public money is being allocated.
Castro further explained that while there is a presumption of regularity in the use of the funds, the Vice President needs to provide evidence to support this presumption in light of the questions raised. “Kung ito man po ay nadiskubre po, dapat po rin patunayan kasi as of the moment, sasabihin pa rin po natin may presumption of regularity patungkol diyan. Pero, since naku-question nga po ito ay dapat lamang pong patunayan ni VP Sara kung ang mga resibong ito ay totoo o hindi,” she added.
Vice President Duterte is currently in the Netherlands, visiting her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained at the International Criminal Court. While her familial concerns are acknowledged, Castro reminded that her responsibilities as the Vice President require her presence and attention in the Philippines. “Tingin ko dapat po isipin po niya na kailangan din po siya ng Pilipinas bilang Bise Presidente. Siya po dapat ay nagtatrabaho hindi lang para sa kaniyang ama although acceptable po at maiintindihan po natin sa ngayon ang kaniyang nararamdaman,” Castro remarked.
The call for Duterte’s return comes amid revelations of questionable names listed in the acknowledgment receipts submitted by the OVP to the Commission on Audit. These receipts were intended to justify the expenditure of PHP500 million in confidential and intelligence funds from December 2022 to September 2023. House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega revealed that names like ‘Jay Kamote’ (Jay Sweet Potato) and ‘Miggy Mango’ were among those listed, raising suspicions due to their seemingly food-derived surnames.
Additionally, five other recipients named ‘Dodongs’-Dodong Alcala, Dodong Bina, Dodong Bunal, Dodong Darong, and Dodong S. Barok-were identified, none of whom have birth, marital, or death records with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Ortega had previously disclosed names resembling chip brands and cellphones, linked to ‘Mary Grace Piattos,’ another recipient of the OVP’s funds, who also lacked PSA records.
