Four officials of the Office of the Vice President(OVP) who were previously cited in contempt finally attended the House of Representatives’ inquiry on the alleged misuse of the vice president’s 2022 confidential funds.
The four officials include Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Gina Acosta, Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, and couples Former Education Secretary Sunshine Fajarda and Former Special Disbursing Officer Edward Fajarda.
Accompanied by their legal counsels, the four officials are set to answer questions from the members of the Committee on Good Government and Public accountability on matters pertaining to Vice President’s Sara Duterte’s confidential funds.
The four officials were already cited in contempt after they failed to attend the committee hearings despite the notices sent to their offices.
Some of the questions raised to the said officials during their absence include the details of 2022 OVP confidential funds specifically the utilization of the P125M which was allegedly spent in just 11 days.
The lawmakers also asked details on the true identity of Mary Grace Piattos, one of the payees on the acknowledgement receipts who reportedly received huge amount from the confidential funds.
Another OVP official, Attorney Zuleika Lopez who has been cited in contempt since Wednesday remains in the hospital due to acute stress disorder.
Atty. Lopez in a letter requested the committee that she be excused from attending the hearing due to her continued confinement.
The contempt citation order against Lopez is set to expire on November 25.
(HRep photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.