MANILA, Philippines — Prosecutors from the House of Representatives are preparing to file a measure aimed at closing gaps in the use of confidential and intelligence funds that have been exposed during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said Thursday some members of the panel were studying a Confidential and Intelligence Fund Integrity Bill that would codify Commission on Audit rules and strengthen accountability in handling secret funds.
“We are also studying among some members of the panel the filing of a Confidential and Intelligence Fund Integrity Bill,” Ridon said during a press briefing.
Ridon said the measure could be submitted within two weeks, after the prosecution concluded its presentation on Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education.
“Hopefully, within the next two weeks, as soon as we wrap up the confidential funds, that is something that can be submitted as legislation,” he said.
Among the safeguards being considered are clearer rules on the use of aliases for confidential fund recipients and requirements ensuring that their real identities remain disclosed to the agency and verifiable by authorized oversight bodies.
The bill could also tighten rules on who may handle secret funds, including requiring personnel other than designated special disbursing officers to be fidelity-bonded and organic personnel of the agency.
‘Unmute the video’
The House prosecution panel said earlier on Thursday that it did not expect supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte to appreciate the evidence and testimony presented in the impeachment trial, urging them to “unmute” the proceedings.
“My advice to them is: My friend, unmute the video,” Ridon said during the prosecution’s briefing.
Ridon declined to characterize the evidence as either heavy or otherwise, citing the sub judice restriction governing public statements on the ongoing impeachment trial.
Rep. Zia Adiong, meanwhile, said the evidence presented before the Senate should already be clear to the public, questioning what more would constitute the “smoking gun” demanded by Duterte supporters.
“I think the DDS supporters, we don't expect anything from them as far as appreciating the evidence and the testimony of the witnesses,” Adiong said.
Adiong also accused Duterte supporters of living in an “echo chamber” and “parallel reality” where they only talk among themselves and reinforce their own interpretation of the proceedings.
“The larger Filipino society knows that there really is compelling evidence that has been presented and sufficient reason has been presented by the prosecution panel,” Adiong said.
He said the prosecution has presented evidence pointing to questions over public funds and accountability that Vice President Sara Duterte must answer.
