Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Office of The Vice President in Mandaluyong City on December 11, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega said the newly discovered names of supposedly questionable recipients of confidential funds show a pattern which supports the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

‘Amuy’, ‘De Asim’ join ‘growing’ list of dubious confidential fund recipients — lawmaker

"Yung parang bago na Asim gang, galing po ito sa listahan ng DepEd as confirmed by yung PSA [Philippine Statistics Authority] po. Same situation po sila. Walang birth certificate, walang marriage saka wala rin pong death certificate," Ortega told reporters in an online interview on Monday.

"Kitang-kita po niyo the pattern is the same. Pareho po yung situation nung Mary Grace Piatos, si Miggy Mango, si Jay Kamote, saka yung ibang pangalan," he added.  

The lawmaker on Sunday revealed the names "Amoy Liu," "Fernan Amuy," and "Joug De Asim" as among the "growing list" of supposed recipients of confidential funds of the Department of Education. 

Around 405 of the 677 names listed as beneficiaries of DepEd's confidential funds have no birth records. 

Of the 1,992 supposed recipients of Office of the Vice President confidential funds, 1,322 had no birth records, 1,456 had no marriage records, and 1,593 had no death records.

Ortega said the newly discovered names will help the impeachment against Duterte. 

The second article of impeachment against Duterte pertains to the alleged misuse of P612.5 million confidential funds of the OVP and DepEd, under Duterte's leadership. 

"It will strengthen article two. Sabi ko nga, meron nang nangyari na hearing sa good government. Mas maganda na tuloy-tuloy itong mga ito, buhay 'yung mga issues at napapatunayan po natin na 'yung mga findings during the committee on good government, hindi lang siya sali-salita. Ebidensya po at meron pong prosesong dinaanan," he explained. 

Ortega did not give a specific number, but he believes a hefty amount or "millions" of government funds were released to these fictitious names.

"Nasa total parin po ito ng 600 plus [million]. Pero kung iisa-isahin po siguro malaki-laki, may 10, may 15, may 25. Marami po na paulit-ulit. Ang 'vineverify po natin yung mga pangalan na wala na pong lumalabas na records. Eh halos ilan na po yun," he said.

"Klaro naman po na malalaki 'yung disbursements. Pero ang question po talaga kasi sa lahat, 'yung paraan po ng paglabas ng pera. 'Yung mga pangalan nga, kahit sabihin nila na code names, madaling sagutin kung andiyan yung paper trail at andiyan yung disbursement," Ortega said.

MORE DISCOVERIES

The lawmaker said they will be releasing more names soon after verification and confirmation from the Philippine Statistics Authority and relevant agencies. 

‘Jay Kamote’, ‘Miggy Mango’ found on OVP confidential fund receipts, says lawmaker

Ortega emphasized that there is a process for disbursement of confidential funds.

"Meron namang proseso lahat 'yan. May proseso pala, so dapat madali nila mailabas 'yung mga, meron namang paper trail lahat 'yan eh. Sabi nga nila pag confidential agent, confidential na mga tao, hindi pupwedeng pangalan lang. Kailangan merong back-up, merong trail na totoong tao," he said. 

Ortega reiterated his call for Duterte to answer the allegations against her. 

"Trend po 'yan so expect po na mas dadami pa 'yan. Sabi ko nga, maganda n arin na may impeachment kasi doon they will finally address 'yun pong mga tanong natin na hanggang ngayon wala pa pong reaction o walang sagot," he urged.  

"Mas kampante na rin po siguro tayo. Hindi lang naman ako pero lahat pong nagtatanong sino ba itong mga pangalan ito? Saan ba nanggaling yung mga pangalan na ito? Bakit milyon-milyon natatanggap nila? Masasagot na po 'yan during the impeachment. Wala na pong rason bakit hindi masagot," Ortega added.

The lawmaker said what gives him peace of mind is that the answers to the questions may be answered during the impeachment trial. 

"Sayang lang kung ang lalabas talaga diyan ay 'yung masamang hinihinala natin, 'yung masamang kutob natin na itong mga pera na ito ay hindi napupunta sa nangangailanga, sa mga recipients at nagamit sa iba," Ortega said. 

PALACE REACTS

Malacañang said Duterte should explain recent discoveries of supposed anomalies using her confidential funds.

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“We believe that VP Sara has the obligation to tell something about this—to tell something about these discoveries,”  Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Malacañang presscon.

“Marami na po ang naglilipana patungkol sa mga pekeng resibo na diumanong na-issue po ng opisina po ni VP Sara. So mas mabuti po, sinasabi naman po nya na dapat po tayo ay may transparency, mas maganda po na mauna po siya na ipaliwanag ito,” Castro said.

The Vice President has previously denied the allegations of misuse while questioning how the lawmakers "handled the chain of evidence" and authenticity of the documents.

Senate President Francis Escudero earlier said the impeachment may begin July 30. —With reports from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News

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