VP Sara files counter-affidavit against fund misuse allegations

Vice President Sara Duterte filed a counter-affidavit before the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday to respond to allegations of fund misuse in her office and during her tenure as Secretary of Education.

Lawyers Paul Lim and Michael Poa submitted the document at 1:10 pm, listing charges including technical malversation, falsification of public documents, perjury, bribery, corruption, plunder, betrayal of public trust, and culpable violation of the Constitution.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability is named as the complainant in these cases, despite not filing a complaint directly with the Ombudsman but recommending charges based on their inquiries.

Other respondents include OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez, Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, and several former education department officials.

Vice President Duterte maintains that she never misused public funds, while facing an impeachment trial before the Senate due to findings from the House panel's investigations.