Politics · Philippines Bureau
Infants, deceased among OVP fund recipients, impeachment trial hears
Philippine authorities have identified irregularities in Vice President Sara Duterte's confidential funds, with toddlers and deceased individuals listed as recipients. The findings emerged during impeachment proceedings Monday, raising fresh questions about fund management.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — An investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte's discretionary funds has uncovered significant irregularities, including payments allegedly made to infants and individuals confirmed dead, according to evidence presented at impeachment hearings Monday.
Records presented by the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that two one-year-old children were listed as recipients of P400,000 each from the Office of the Vice President's confidential funds. The audit also identified at least 23 other minors and 37 individuals whose names matched death records held by the PSA among the supposed payees.
The discrepancies have intensified scrutiny of the administration of vice-presidential confidential and intelligence funds, a category of government spending traditionally shrouded in secrecy. Lawmakers questioned how such payments could have been processed through standard government financial systems without detection.
The Office of the Vice President has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the findings. The revelation comes as Duterte faces an impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives, with multiple issues under examination including budget allocation and fund utilization.