Since her online outburst against the Marcoses in the early hours of Saturday, November 23, Vice President Sara Duterte has consistently held press briefings, addressing the media wherever she goes. In these briefings, however, she declined — or, in most cases, avoided — answering questions about her alleged controversial misuse of funds.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, November 27, at the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) satellite office in Zamboanga City, Duterte was asked for her reaction to the recent House probe, where it was revealed that, according to the joint circular on the use of confidential funds, her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) — where she previously served as chief — violated rules governing the use of such funds.
“Based on the DBM-COA joint circular, OVP and DepEd violated a rule on confidential funds when you allowed security officers to handle them, instead of special disbursing officers. What’s your reaction?” the media officer said, reading the question from the OVP media in Manila.
Instead of responding to the legitimate query, the Vice President focused on who asked the question. She chose to ignore the contents of the document or the findings of the House probe. This resembled the style of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, who skirted media questions by shifting focus or providing evasive responses.
“I will not answer a question na si Bonz Magsambol ang nagsabi na, there is a violation of the JMC. I will only answer kung nagsabi ang COA if there is violation of the JMC. Hindi COA si Bonz [Magsambol]. Hindi siya COA,” Duterte said, referring to the joint circular of the Department of Budget and Management on confidential funds. Magsambol is a Rappler reporter.
(I will not answer a question just because Bonz Magsambol said there is a violation of the JMC. I will only answer if COA says there is a violation of the JMC. Bonz Magsambol is not COA. He is not COA.)
During the House probe into her alleged misuse of funds on Monday, November 25, Duterte’s special disbursing officers (SDOs), Edward Fajarda and Gina Acosta, said that they were unaware of how the confidential funds were used. They explained that their role was limited to withdrawing millions of pesos from the bank and handing the cash over to the Vice President’s security officers, Colonels Dennis Nolasco and Raymund Lachica.
Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro didn’t hold back, asking Acosta straight up why she didn’t know how the funds were used, especially since it was her job to disburse them. Clearly, accountability was on the table, but Acosta seemed to be at a loss.
According to Joint Circular No. 2015-01, it is the responsibility of the SDO, not security personnel, to disburse confidential funds. The House committee was unable to finish questioning Acosta who had to be excused because her blood pressure shot up to 150/100.
The Vice President was present when lawmakers, especially Luistro, were questioning the SDOs about how the funds were used. Having heard the questions of Luistro, Duterte should have known what the Rappler reporter was asking about during Wednesday’s press briefing.
This wasn’t the first time Duterte dodged questions about her use of confidential funds. Whenever her critics, particularly in the House, pressed her on how the funds were used, she often responded with personal attacks instead of addressing the issue at hand. (READ: In confidential funds fiasco, Sara Duterte resorts to personal attacks vs critics)
Wednesday’s press briefing seemed like a fan meet-up, where she addressed questions on why she continues to fight and how she’s holding up.
‘Clear oppression, harassment’
The Vice President also said that the government’s probe into her threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez is “clear oppression and harassment,” reiterating that her remarks were maliciously taken out of context.
In the subpoena, Duterte was directed to appear before National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago, at his office, at 9 am on Friday, November 29, “to shed light on the investigation for alleged grave threats and possible violation of Republic Act No. 11479” or the Anti-Terrorism Act. Ironically, the anti-terror law was one of the priority measures of the Vice President’s father when he was president.
“They have a playbook for what they’ll do when you’re charged under the Anti-Terrorism Law. They want to cancel your passport. They want to issue a red notice. They want to involve the AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) for violations. This means they’ll freeze your assets and properties,” Duterte said, citing the supposed case of fugitive former lawmaker Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr, who was arrested in Timor Leste.
The Vice President said that her office requested the NBI to move her appearance to a later date because she will join her staff in the scheduled House probe on Friday.
“Walang active threat kung hindi ako mamatay. Walang mali doon. Walang illegal doon,” Duterte said. (There’s no active threat unless I die. There’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing illegal about it.)(READ: Sara Duterte: If I get killed, so will Marcos, Liza Araneta, Romualdez)
Reacting to the cases filed against her, the Vice President said that these “don’t hold water.” Aside from the NBI subpoena, Duterte is also facing a disbarment case filed before the Supreme Court and a criminal case stemming from the “forced transfer” of her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, to a private hospital over the weekend. – Rappler.com