Ortega Speaks on VP Sara Duterte’s Confidential Funds Recipients
SARA DUTERTE’S CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS – House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V claimed that the recipients of the CFs bear the senators’ surnames.
Vice Pres. Duterte is surrounded by questions on the spending of the Confidential Funds of the offices she led — the Office of the Vice President (OVP) as well as the Department of Education when she was still the DepEd secretary. Amid the issues, the Vice President was impeached by the House of Representatives last February 5.
Amid Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ persistent claim that he does not want the impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, over two-thirds of the lawmakers in the House signed the impeachment rap against the Vice President. One of them is presidential son and Ilocos Norte Congressman Sandro Marcos.
Malacañang previously stressed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos will not interfere on the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. As for the Vice President, Duterte said she has already accepted whether she will be acquitted or found guilty in the impeachment trial.
Amid the questions on the use of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s confidential funds, House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Representative Paolo Ortega V claimed that the recipients of the funds based on the receipts submitted by the OVP bear the surnames of the senators.
“These irregularities are too glaring to ignore—these names from the supposed Budol Gang call for a deeper look. Hanggang Senado po, hindi na pinalampas,” Ortega said.
Based on the report, some of the names of the alleged Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s Confidential Funds recipients are Janice Marie Revilla, Beth Revilla, Kristine Applegate Estrada, Diane Maple Lapid, Denise Tanya Escudero, Clarisse Hontiveros, and John Lapid Jr.
The La Union lawmaker also cited ‘Cannor Adrian Contis’ which is similar to a cake shop and restaurant. He claimed that the alleged siphoning of the public funds came with a plan.
“Kapag ba may confidential funds ang opisina mo, may sweet tooth ka din? When these suspicious names turned out to be fixtures, this is not just a simple malfeasance. It is well-coordinated and well-planned siphoning of public funds,” he expressed.
Amid the looming impeachment trial, reelected Senator Bato dela Rosa who is a Duterte ally refused to name the senators who are allegedly planning to acquit Vice Pres. Sara Duterte but expressed his confidence that she will be acquitted. According to him, there are over nine (9) senators on their side now.