OVP aide says only Duterte, Lachica knew confidential funds' fate

MANILA — Lemuel Ortonio, an assistant to Vice President Sara Duterte, testified on Wednesday that the spending of millions of pesos in confidential funds remained largely known only to the Vice President and her former security chief, according to his testimony before the Senate.

Ortonio's statement has intensified scrutiny over the Office of the Vice President's secretive expenditures and raised questions about accountability mechanisms for the sensitive disbursements. Senator-judges present at the proceedings pressed for clarification on who bore responsibility for approving and monitoring the confidential fund allocations.

The testimony underscores ongoing concerns about transparency in how the OVP has managed its confidential operating budget. The Vice President's office has previously defended its use of confidential funds as permissible under government regulations, though the scope and beneficiaries of such spending have remained largely undisclosed.

The Senate inquiry continues to examine the OVP's financial management practices and governance structures. The proceeding marks another phase in the legislative body's effort to establish clearer accounting procedures and accountability standards for confidential fund utilization across government agencies.