Politics · Philippines Bureau
Lawyer Refuses to Clarify Legal Status of VP Sara's Fund Usage
A legal representative declined to address whether Vice President Sara Duterte's expenditure of confidential and intelligence funds adhered to legal requirements. The attorney invoked privilege protections when questioned during Senate proceedings.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — Lawyer Michael Poa sidestepped a direct question from Senator Risa Hontiveros regarding the legality of Vice President Sara Duterte's use of confidential and intelligence funds, citing attorney-client privilege as his reason for declining to answer.
The exchange occurred during legislative scrutiny of the Vice President's handling of confidential allocations at both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during her tenure as education secretary.
Poa stated that providing an answer would introduce bias into the proceedings, prompting him to maintain the confidentiality shield. The refusal to clarify whether the fund usage complied with applicable laws underscores ongoing tensions between the executive and legislative branches over transparency and accountability in government spending.
The matter remains under investigation by the House of Representatives, with lawmakers pressing for clarity on how the discretionary funds were allocated and spent. The incident highlights persistent questions about the oversight of confidential government expenditures and the constraints officials face when attempting to obtain detailed accounting from the executive branch.