House Blue Ribbon Panel Details Plunder Case in Confidential Funds Misuse

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability presented its exhaustive findings on the misuse of PHP 612.5 million in confidential funds under Vice President Sara Duterte’s leadership of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), emphasizing that the scale and systematic nature of the misuse constitute plunder, alongside other violations such as betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution.

“As exhaustively discussed by my good colleagues, what this Committee has discovered throughout the course of these proceedings is very alarming and unacceptable,” said Rep. Jinky Luistro (Batangas, 4th District) in her closing remarks. “Ang perang ito ay hindi kanya, ito ay pera ng taongbayan. Ngunit ang bawat piso ay ginamit sa maling paraan, na may layuning magkamal ng yaman.”

The Plunder Case: Unprecedented Misuse of Public Funds

Between 2022 and 2023, PHP 500 million was allocated to the OVP, and PHP 112.5 million to DepEd—marking the first time DepEd received confidential funds. These funds, according to Rep. Luistro, were released despite the agency’s lack of a clear mandate requiring such allocations. “Hindi naman talaga kailangan ng DepEd ng confidential funds para magawa ang mandato nito. Kaya ang tanong: bakit sila binigyan ng ganito kalaking halaga?”

The Anti-Plunder Act defines plunder as the amassing of ill-gotten wealth totaling PHP 50 million or more through a series of overt criminal acts by public officials, directly or indirectly. The Committee revealed that:

“Dalawang Pasko ang lumipas na nilustay ang perang ito,” Rep. Luistro said. “Ito ay malinaw na halimbawa ng pandarambong—hindi lamang maling paggamit ng pondo, kundi sistematikong pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan.”

Evidence of Systematic Misuse

Bogus Acknowledgment Receipts

Falsified documents were submitted to justify fund liquidation. The name “Mary Grace Piattos,” who does not exist per PSA records, appeared in multiple receipts.

“Kung walang Mary Grace Piattos, nasaan ang pera?” Rep. Luistro asked. “Si VP Sara ba si Mary Grace?”

Massive Disbursements in Short Timeframes

The OVP spent PHP 125 million in just 11 days and disbursed funds to 103 individuals in a single day. Similarly, DepEd distributed funds in geographically impossible timeframes, including simultaneous disbursements in Makati and Cebu.

“Ang SDO ng DepEd, parang marunong mag-teleport—nagdisburse ng pera mula Aparri hanggang Sulu sa iisang araw,” Rep. Luistro quipped.

Fabricated Certifications

Vice President Duterte signed certifications under oath, attesting that the funds were utilized for lawful purposes. These certifications were based on falsified liquidation reports, including acknowledgment receipts bearing identical handwriting and signatures.

“Nanumpa siya na ginamit ang pondo ayon sa batas, pero lumalabas na ito ay purong kasinungalingan,” Luistro stated.

Unexplained Expenses

The OVP claimed to have spent PHP 53 million on “safehouses,” but no supporting evidence was provided.

“Ang mga gastusing ito ay walang basehan, isang malinaw na pagtatago ng tunay na paggamit ng pondo,” Luistro emphasized.

Plunder’s Impact on Public Trust and Services

Rep. Luistro stressed that the misuse of PHP 612.5 million represents not only a financial scandal but also a betrayal of public trust.

“Mahigit kalahating bilyong piso—ilang classrooms ang sana napagawa? Ilang libro at laptops ang nabili gamit ang perang ito? Ilang feeding programs ang maaaring naisagawa?” she asked.

She added, “Maraming estudyante ang naglalakad ng kilometro araw-araw para makapasok sa paaralan. Ang ating mga guro, nagtitiis sa kakulangan ng resources. Sila ang pinagkaitan ng mahigit kalahating bilyong piso.”

Legal Consequences and Next Steps

The Committee outlined the legal implications of the findings, particularly under the Anti-Plunder Act. The penalty for plunder includes reclusion perpetua (20 to 40 years imprisonment) and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

“Sa ilalim ng batas, ang mga gumagawa ng pandarambong ay dapat maparusahan nang naaayon,” Luistro said. “Hindi ito pagpopolitiko. Ito ay pananagutan.”

Two impeachment complaints have already been filed against Vice President Duterte, citing plunder, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution as grounds for removal from office.

Call for Public Accountability

Rep. Luistro concluded with a powerful statement: “Ang mali po ay ang tumahimik at magsawalang-kibo. Ang sabi nga ni Albert Einstein: ‘The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.’”

The House Committee committed to endorsing its findings to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and pursuing reforms to tighten oversight on confidential funds.

“Let the chips fall where they may,” Rep. Luistro said. “The Filipino people deserve no less than full accountability for this betrayal of their trust.”