MANILA – The Office of the Vice President’s assistant chief of staff on Monday explained how the P125 million confidential funds were used in the span of 11 days, some of which were supposedly for their office’s “confidence building.”

Based on a document released by the House of Representatives’ quad committee dated Jan. 10, 2022, the P125 million confidential funds were used as follows:

- Purchase of Information - P14,000,000 - Payment of Reward - P10,000,000 - Rental of Other Incidental Expenses relative to the Maintenance of Safe Houses - P16,000,000 - Purchase of Supplies - P35,000,000 - Provision of Medical and Food Aid - P40,000,000 - Payment of Incentives or Travelling relative to the Confidential Operations - P10,000,000

Lemuel Ortonio, Vice President Sara Duterte’s assistant chief of staff, said confidence building aims to ensure that “no threat will happen to the institution.” 

Despite these, he “cannot provide further information” when asked if he knew how the funds were implemented.

A letter signed by OVP Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez showed that expenses under the Provision of Medical and Food Aid pertain to “payments made to the individuals tasked by the OVP to conduct the surveillance operations in the gathering of information nationwide that were vital to the formulation and implementation of the programs, projects, and activities of the Office.”

The payment of Incentives or Travelling under confidential operations, meanwhile, refers to the rental of transport vehicles.

“The vehicles were used in the conduct of surveillance operations as allowed under Item 4.8.2 of the [joint circular] allows ‘rental of transport vehicle related to confidential activities.’”

Rep. Janette Garin asked Ortonio how the payment of rewards happen, but the latter said he does not know. 

A security officer supposedly takes the lead on these activities. One security officer mentioned in the quad comm hearing is a certain Col. Dennis Nolasco.

“I won’t be able to provide information because I am not familiar with the disbursement of the confidential funds,” the assistant chief of staff said.

The Commission on Audit said there should be receipts on how confidential funds were used.

“Based on the joint circular ngayon, documentary evidence of payment lang ang required ng cash,” said lawyer Gloria Camora, an auditor at the COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office.

Asked by Rep. Janette Garin how the P125 million was encashed, Ortonio said the OVP’s cash division informs the bank “a day or two before.”

Landbank, the bank where the amount was encashed, said this was possible.

QUESTIONS ON IMPLEMENTATION

Pressed by Rep. Dan Fernandez if Duterte’s chief of staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez knew anything about the confidential funds, Ortonio said, “I cannot answer if [she] knows the activities where confidential funds were being used,” he said.

“As far as I know, she does not know of any activities that she mentioned,” he added.

Rep. Rolando Valeriano likewise grilled Ortonio about the safe houses, where P16 million was lodged. But the latter said, “as to the particulars, i won’t be able to provide you information on this one.”

Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop’s interpellation centered on whether or not Duterte’s assistant chief of staff vetted the attachments to the liquidation report on the confidential funds.

Ortonio answered in the negative.

“I was only able to see the acknowledgement receipts when we already prepared the reply,” he said.

The acknowledgement receipts, he emphasized, can be best explained by the security officer.

The House panel is looking into the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the agencies under the leadership of the Vice President. Duterte has earlier denied any misuse of the confidential funds.