MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio dismissed the plunder and graft complaints filed against her and several former and current government officials as a politically motivated attempt to divert attention from unresolved corruption issues, insisting the cases were a “fishing expedition” designed to manufacture grounds for an investigation.
In a statement sent to Panay News over the weekend, Duterte-Carpio rejected the accusations stemming from the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) from 2022 to 2023, saying the complaints were meant to create the appearance of procedural legitimacy.
“Another fishing expedition is now being launched, as they scramble to weaponize any accusation they can manufacture just to create a semblance of procedural legitimacy for an investigation,” Duterte-Carpio said.
She urged the public to remain vigilant amid what she described as coordinated efforts to discredit her.
“Hinihikayat ko ang ating mga kababayan na maging mapanuri at huwag basta magpapadala sa mga paninira. Hindi ito tungkol sa paghahanap ng katotohanan — ito ay tungkol sa pagtakip ng nakawan sa kaban ng bayan na hanggang ngayon ay walang nananagot,” she said.
The plunder and graft complaints were filed Friday before the Office of the Ombudsman against Duterte-Carpio and 15 other officials linked to the OVP and DepEd, where she previously served as secretary. The cases also cited malversation and other related offenses, with complainants claiming that despite repeated congressional hearings, Duterte-Carpio failed to sufficiently explain how the confidential funds were spent.
Reacting to the filing, Duterte-Carpio said the complaints followed earlier attempts to look for grounds to impeach her.
“Mga kababayan, last year, the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability launched a full-blown fishing expedition, searching for anything that could be twisted into grounds for impeachment,” she wrote.
She further alleged that impeachment efforts were tied to budgetary negotiations.
“Then came the revelation that signatures for my impeachment were being courted in exchange for budget allocations. Several lawmakers themselves recently confirmed how the constitutional process was being cheapened and reduced to a marketplace,” Duterte-Carpio added.
Calling on Filipinos to focus on broader national concerns, the Vice President said the country faced more urgent challenges.
“Patuloy lamang tayong maging matatag sa harap ng pagbagsak ng ekonomiya at walang tigil na pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin. Patuloy tayong magdasal para sa kapayapaan,” she said.
Despite the allegations, Duterte-Carpio assured that her office would continue to function normally.
“Rest assured that the Office of the Vice President will continue to deliver efficient, accessible, and responsive public service for the good of all Filipinos. Shukran,” she said.
The complaints were filed by former Finance undersecretary Cielo Magno, Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Father Flavie Villanueva, and activist priest Father Robert Reyes.
Also named as respondents were OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez; assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio; OVP Administrative and Financial Services Office Director Rosalynne Sanchez; Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey; Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta; former AFP Security and Protection Group commander Col. Raymund Dante Lachica; former DepEd spokesperson Michael Poa; Strategy Management Office Director Sunshine Fajarda; former Education undersecretaries Annalyn Sevilla and Gloria Mercado; DepEd chief accountant Ma. Rhunna Catalan; DepEd special disbursement officer Edward Fajarda; retired Maj. Gen. Nolasco Mempin; and Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco./PN
