Office of the Vice President (OVP) assistant chief-of-staff Lemuel Ortonio confirmed Tuesday that the agency had yet to identify specific programs, projects, and activities related to national security and peace and order when it requested confidential funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in August 2022.
During the Day 18 of impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, House private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia pointed out that the OVP's August 22, 2022 request letter did not contain a physical and financial plan or specify the programs for which the confidential funds would be used.
Divinagracia asked Ortonio to confirm that the OVP was still in the process of formulating its plans, programs, and activities concerning national security and peace and order when the letter was sent.
“Despite the fact na kanina inamin mo na ‘yung pinadala niyo yung letter na ito moreor less na-identify niyo na ‘yung plans, projects and activities of the OVP for the reminder of the 2022, tama ba?” Divinagracia asked Ortonio.
"That's correct," Ortonio replied.
Ortonio, however, said the OVP already had plans for its programs and projects when Duterte assumed office in July 2022.
"In the context of the plans and programs of the office, there had already been plans at the beginning of Vice President Sara Duterte's term in July of 2022," Ortonio said.
He added that these plans allowed the OVP to implement several programs and projects for the remainder of 2022 and throughout Duterte's term.
Divinagracia then clarified whether the specific plans and programs related to national security and peace and order were still being formulated when the OVP submitted its confidential funds request.
The prosecutor asked Ortonio for clarification: “With respect to those plans programs and activity relating to national security and peace and order ito yung ifoformulate niyo pa lang when you sent out his letter because what is stated in the letter, tama ba?
“That’s correct,” Ortonio response.
Divinagracia also asked whether the August 22, 2022 letter was the only request for confidential funds made by the OVP that month.
"None," Ortonio replied.
