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Lawmakers, however, give Duterte’s top staff Zuleika Lopez, who says she is abroad to take care of a sick relative, one last chance to attend the congressional inquiry
MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives good government committee slapped contempt citations against four Office of the Vice President (OVP) officials on Monday, November 11, for continuously snubbing its inquiry into the alleged misuse of public funds of Vice President Sara Duterte, although lawmakers spared her highest-ranking staff.
The following officials cited in contempt were:
- Gina Acosta, OVP special disbursing officer;
- Sunshine Fajarda, former Department of Education (DepEd) assistant secretary;
- Edward Fajarda, former DepEd special disbursing officer; and
- Lemuel Ortonio, OVP assistant chief of staff and bids and awards chairperson.
“I move that we cite in contempt these individuals for their continuous defiance to attend the committee hearings on good government,” House Deputy Speaker Jay-jay Suarez moved. The motion was approved.
Sunshine and Edward Fajarda are a couple, whose names were repeatedly brought up during previous hearings due to the role they played in the alleged disbursement of cash gifts to officials of the Department of Education (DepEd), which they were part of when Duterte was its agency secretary.
At least four DepEd officials have confirmed with the committee that they had received envelopes containing wads of cash during Duterte’s time in the agency.
Duterte’s chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, who also continued to snub the hearings, sent a letter, saying she is abroad to take care of a sick aunt.
During the previous hearing on November 5, it was revealed that Lopez flew to the US on November 4.
“All of us have families. Because of humanitarian reasons, maybe we can extend a little more of our understanding if my fellow committee members will accept our explanation. We can accept the letter of Attorney Zuleika Lopez, but only until the next committee hearing,” Suarez added in a mix of English and Filipino.
The committee moved to extend the subpoena against Lopez, although Santa Rosa, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez expressed reservations.
“Is she the only niece of her aunt? Does she not have any other nieces or a husband to send instead? We’re addressing so many issues related to her. This is clear evasion; it’s not justified,” Fernandez said.
As for the four officials cited in contempt, the House did not buy their excuse that they are on official travel that prevents them from attending the inquiry.
“It’s quite puzzling because they all left at the same time, all with travel orders, all permitted to leave on the day of our hearing. It makes me think there may actually be a malicious intent behind these reasons and travel orders given to them so they can avoid attending today’s hearings,” Suarez said.
The House has been investigating supposed anomalies surrounding Duterte’s confidential and regular expenditures as head of OVP and DepEd.
Duterte has decried the inquiry as political harassment, and denied misusing public funds. – Rappler.com
