The Senate impeachment trial enters its 11th day on Monday, August 3, with proceedings continuing to discuss Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which focuses on the alleged misuse and misappropriation of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds.
Expected to take the witness stand is Roderick Wamil, a former state auditor of the Commission on Audit’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Office (COA-ICFAO). Wamil is the first of three witnesses subpoenaed by the impeachment court upon the prosecution’s request.
Also scheduled to testify are COA-ICFAO state auditor Celine May Del Campo on August 4 and House of Representatives Legislative Information Resources Management Department Director Marivic Pareja on August 5.
The prosecution seeks to establish its allegations involving the alleged misuse of P500 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million from the Department of Education. The hearings follow last week's testimonies from two former LandBank branch managers, who described the large cash withdrawals linked to the confidential funds as "unusual."
Senate opens Day 11 of Impeachment Trial
The Senate impeachment court officially opened the 11th day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, August 3, as proceedings resumed to continue hearing the case against the embattled vice president.
A total of 16 senator-judges were present during the session, which is expected to focus on the prosecution's presentation of evidence and witnesses concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds under Article I of the Articles of Impeachment.
Before the proceedings began, Senator Imee Marcos led the opening prayer, asking for guidance and urging everyone involved to set aside personal feelings.
In her prayer, she said, “Alisin Mo sa aming mga puso ang anumang pansariling damdamin,” as the impeachment court commenced another day of trial.
Former COA Auditor Roderick Wamil takes oath as Day 11 Witness
Former Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Roderick Wamil formally took his oath on Monday as the first witness presented by the House prosecution on the 11th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Wamil, who previously served with the Commission on Audit’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Office (COA-ICFAO), is expected to testify in connection with Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which alleges the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
His testimony marks the continuation of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence as it seeks to establish its case before the Senate impeachment court.
Prosecution highlights OVP’s quarterly P125-Million confidential funds
The House prosecution panel on Monday underscored what it described as a key admission in the pre-trial order during the 11th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, citing the Office of the Vice President’s allocation for confidential funds.
House prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan read portions of the pre-trial order before the Senate impeachment court, emphasizing that the OVP received confidential funds in fixed quarterly amounts.
“I’d like to highlight certain admissions… The OVP had confidential funds in the fixed amount of P125 million per quarter,” Kapunan told the impeachment court as the prosecution continued presenting its case under Article I of the Articles of Impeachment.
Defense seeks brief suspension to review documentary stipulations
The defense panel on Monday requested a five-minute suspension during the 11th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial to coordinate with the House prosecution regarding the documentary evidence to be stipulated before the Senate impeachment court.
Defense counsel Atty. Michael Poa said the request was intended to allow both parties to review the specific documents being presented, stressing that the defense had no objection to stipulating the evidence but wanted to ensure accuracy.
“I apologize for having to request for this, but may we just ask for at least a five-minute suspension so we can also concur with the prosecution panel to check exactly what documents they would want to stipulate?" Poa said.
“Because, Your Honor, we have no problem stipulating, but we also, due to the voluminous nature of the documents, we just wanna make also while ensuring the rights of our client,” he added.
Defense questions December 2022 acknowledgment receipts in Impeachment Trial
The defense panel on Monday said it is willing to stipulate most of the documentary evidence presented by the House prosecution during the 11th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, except for acknowledgment receipts covering December 21 to 31, 2022.
Defense counsel Atty. Michael Poa told the Senate impeachment court that the receipts in question are subject to unresolved issues, which he said would be addressed by future witnesses during the proceedings.
“The defense is willing to stipulate on the list of documents provided except for the acknowledgment receipts for the period covering December 21 to 31, 2022,” Poa said.
“There are issues concerning these acknowledgement receipts that I believe will also be touched upon by other witnesses in the future,” he added.
Kapunan presents confidential funds stipulations as COA Auditor takes witness stand
House private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan presented the agreed stipulations between the prosecution and defense regarding documents related to the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.
The stipulations covered key records involving the utilization and liquidation of the funds under scrutiny.
Former COA State Auditor Roderick Wamil also took the witness stand to testify on his audit of the funds and the audit observation memoranda he issued.
Former COA Auditor begins testimony on Article I of Impeachment Trial
The House prosecution panel on Monday began its direct examination of former Commission on Audit (COA) State Auditor Roderick Wamil during the 11th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. Wamil is testifying on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which concerns the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
Before the questioning started, House private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan asked Wamil how he was feeling. The former auditor admitted that he was "a bit anxious," prompting Kapunan to reassure him before proceeding with the examination.
“I’m feeling a bit anxious lang po as of this moment,” Wamil said. Kapunan responded, “Nerbyos? Anxious. Huwag kang mag-anxious.”
Wamil previously served with the Commission on Audit–Intelligence and Confidential Funds Office (COA-ICFAO) and conducted the audit of the Office of the Vice President’s liquidation of confidential expenditures, which is central to the prosecution’s case under Article I.
Wamil: VP Duterte only Vice President audited with confidential fund appropriation since 2014
Former Commission on Audit (COA) State Auditor Roderick Wamil testified that Vice President Sara Duterte was the only vice president he had audited who received an appropriation for confidential funds since he was assigned to the COA Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office (ICFAO) in 2014.
During the 11th day of the impeachment trial, Wamil said that former vice presidents Jejomar Binay and Leni Robredo did not have any confidential fund appropriations during his tenure at the ICFAO.
“Tanging si VP Sara Duterte lang po ang nagkaroon ng appropriation for the confidential funds,” Wamil said.
Wamil also confirmed that he examined the ₱500 million confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the ₱112.5 million confidential funds of the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as vice president and education secretary.
His testimony formed part of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence for Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which involves allegations of misuse of confidential funds.
Wamil questions OVP confidential expense entries
Former COA State Auditor Roderick Wamil testified that some items listed as confidential expenses in the Office of the Vice President’s revised accomplishment report were not among the allowable expenses under Joint Circular 2015-01.
He cited the ₱40 million medical and food aid and ₱10 million incentives or travel expenses related to confidential operations as examples of questionable entries.
Wamil added that the OVP did not submit documents proving the success of information gathering or surveillance activities connected to the issuance of rewards.
Wamil says OVP failed to specify confidential activities in fund plan
Former COA–Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (ICFAO) State Auditor Roderick Wamil testified that some documents submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on its confidential funds did not comply with the requirements of Joint Circular No. 2015-01.
He said the OVP failed to enumerate its specific confidential activities in its physical and financial plan, a requirement under the circular.
Wamil presented the observation as part of his testimony during the prosecution's presentation of evidence in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Wamil says OVP submitted no official receipts for certain confidential fund expenses
Former COA State Auditor Roderick Wamil testified that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) did not attach official receipts or sales invoices for several confidential fund expenditures, submitting only acknowledgment receipts instead.
He said the questioned expenses included ₱40 million for medical and food aid, ₱10 million for travel expenses, and ₱10 million for payment of rewards, which required additional supporting documentation.
Wamil made the statement during his testimony in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as part of the prosecution's presentation of evidence.
Wamil says some OVP confidential fund expenses were not allowable
Former COA–Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (ICFAO) State Auditor Roderick Wamil testified that some line items charged to Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds were not among the allowable expenses under the Joint Circular.
He identified ₱40 million allocated for medical and food aid, as well as ₱10 million for incentives and travel expenses related to confidential operations, as among the questioned expenditures.
Wamil presented the findings during his testimony in the impeachment trial as part of the prosecution’s evidence on the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
Wamil flags irregularities in OVP acknowledgment receipts
Former COA State Auditor Roderick Wamil testified that his 19-page tabulation recorded ₱125.15 million worth of acknowledgment receipts submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in relation to its confidential funds.
He said some acknowledgment receipts were dated December 2023 even though the transactions were indicated to have occurred between December 21 and December 31, 2022.
Wamil also noted that several OVP purchases were supported only by acknowledgment receipts and were not accompanied by sales invoices or official receipts.
Wamil confirms acknowledgment receipt under name ‘Mary Grace Piattos’
Former COA State Auditor Roderick Wamil confirmed that an acknowledgment receipt submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) was under the name “Mary Grace Piattos” as the recipient of ₱70,000.
The document was identified among the acknowledgment receipts reviewed by Wamil in connection with the OVP’s confidential funds.
Wamil made the confirmation during his testimony on the 11th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Prosecution presents OVP acknowledgment receipts bearing names of recipients
The prosecution presented several acknowledgment receipts submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP), including documents bearing the names “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Miko Harina,” and “Patty Ting” as listed recipients of confidential funds.
The documents were presented as part of the evidence being examined in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The acknowledgment receipts are among the records reviewed during the proceedings regarding the alleged use of confidential funds.
Impeachment court adjourns Day 11 trial
The impeachment court formally adjourned the 11th day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, August 3.
The trial is scheduled to resume on Tuesday, August 4, as the presentation of evidence continues.
