Auditor: OVP confidential funds ‘personally’ used
Philippine House prosecutors argue that Vice President Sara Duterte's failure to liquidate confidential funds creates a legal presumption of personal misuse. The impeachment proceedings are examining whether this lack of transparency constitutes a betrayal of public trust.
Why it matters
This case highlights issues of government accountability and the legal standards for handling confidential public funds in the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines - Unless proven otherwise, Vice President Sara Duterte is presumed to have spent her confidential funds for personal use or benefit after her office failed to properly liquidate the funds despite a formal demand from the Commission on Audit (COA), the House prosecution said yesterday.
Citing the testimony of state auditor Roderick Wamil, prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said failure to liquidate funds creates prima facie evidence that accountable officers misused such funds or used these for personal benefit.
Wamil cited before the Senate impeachment court Item 8.3 of Joint Circular No. 2015-01, in the process creating the legal presumption on Duterte.
In law, evidence is deemed prima facie when it appears sufficient on its surface to support a conclusion, shifting the burden to the opposing party to refute it.
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