Four OVP staff appear before House committee amid P612M fund probe

Four employees from the Office of Vice President (OVP) appeared voluntarily before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, accompanied by Vice President Sara Duterte.

The four individuals—Lemuel Ortonio (Assistant Chief of Staff), Gina Acosta (Special Disbursing Officer), Sunshine Fajarda (former DepEd Assistant Secretary), and Edward Fajarda (former DepEd Special Disbursing Officer)—were granted furlough with the condition that they attend the next hearing on Friday.

The committee is investigating over P612 million worth of confidential funds disbursed during Duterte's tenure, focusing on issues involving acknowledgment receipts for expenditures by both the OVP and Department of Education.

Gina Acosta was seen being attended to by medical personnel following her appearance at Monday’s hearing and was later brought to the Veterans Memorial Medical Center due to high blood pressure.

Her attendance in the next hearing remains uncertain as lawmakers await a medical bulletin, while security agencies investigate Duterte's threats against government officials.