MANILA, Philippines — Office of the Vice President Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio on Tuesday confirmed that P125 million in confidential funds allocated in 2022 was spent in just 11 days.
During the 18th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia showed the Liquidation Report covering Dec. 21 to 31, 2022 and asked Ortonio if the P125 million confidential fund was spent by Dec. 31.
In response, Ortonio said that the P125 million in confidential funds were allotted for the fourth quarter of 2022, but the funds were spent only until Dec. 31, 2022, since they were encashed on Dec. 20, 2022.
"Based on the computation and based on the document, it will reflect 11 days," Ortonio said.
Presiding Officer Francis Escudero then asked why the fund was immediately spent when the budget was intended for two years.
Ortonio replied that it was because the request was made for 2022, particularly the last quarter.
Meanwhile, Ortonio said he was not aware of any "threat of cataclysmic proportion" against Duterte that would have required spending P125 million in confidential funds within 11 days.
"I personally don't know of any information," Ortonio said.
