OVP Official Defends Practice of Giving Confidential Funds to Informants

MANILA — An assistant secretary of the Office of the Vice President defended the practice of providing confidential funds directly to informants, saying the arrangement was both proper and customary.

Lemuel Ortonio, the third-ranking official in the OVP, made the statement on Wednesday in response to questions about how the office manages its confidential fund allocations. He characterized the decision to hand over funds to informants and permit them to independently purchase medicines as legitimate compensation for their work.

Ortonio's remarks come as the OVP faces scrutiny over its confidential fund operations. The office has faced questions about the transparency and accountability of these disbursements, which are traditionally kept confidential in law enforcement and intelligence work.

The assistant secretary's defense suggests the OVP considers its current practices aligned with standard procedures for managing informant payments and operational expenses. However, the statement does not address broader questions about oversight mechanisms or documentation requirements for such transactions.