Politics · Philippines Bureau
OVP paid informants directly for supplies, medicines, witness tells court
A witness testified that the Office of the Vice President channeled funds directly to informants and agents for the purchase of supplies, medicines, and food. OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio was called to the stand by prosecutors as the investigation into the Vice President's office continues.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA – Payments from the Office of the Vice President went directly to informants and agents rather than through official procurement channels, according to testimony delivered in court on Tuesday.
OVP Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio appeared before prosecutors, providing details about expenditures for supplies including office furniture, as well as medicines and food items. The witness account suggests a pattern of direct payments that bypassed standard administrative procedures.
The testimony forms part of an ongoing investigation into the Vice President's office and its financial practices. Prosecutors are examining how funds were allocated and distributed within the OVP during the period in question.
Ortonio's testimony represents a significant development in the case, with the direct payment arrangement raising questions about oversight and accountability in the handling of public funds. The investigation continues as prosecutors build their case.