Ombudsman orders Sara Duterte, Lopez, others to respond to misuse of funds charges

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered Vice President Sara Duterte, her chief of staff Zuleika Lopez, and seven other officials to respond to charges related to alleged misuse of confidential funds.

Vice President Duterte and others were given ten days from receipt of the order on Friday, June 20, to file counter-affidavits along with affidavits of their witnesses and supporting documents.

The complaint includes charges such as plunder, technical malversation, falsification, use of falsified documents, perjury, bribery, corruption, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution.

These allegations stem from a recommendation by the House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability to file charges for misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds from 7 officials from 2022-2023.

Duterte has denied these allegations, which are also part of an impeachment complaint before the Senate.

Vice President Duterte is set to travel to Australia for a personal trip and to join a June 22 protest action in Melbourne calling for the release of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.