Sara Duterte trial: Lorna Kapunan says VP’s secret fund system a ‘scam’

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MANILA, Philippines — The system that Vice President Sara Duterte’s offices use to spend and liquidate confidential funds (CFs) already points to a “scam,” private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan said during the 12th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial.

During Tuesday’s hearing before the Senate Impeachment Court, Kapunan asked the witness, Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Roderick Wamil, how to categorize the irregularities in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education’s (DepEd) use of CFs.

Wamil said Paragraph 8.3 of Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which governs the use of CFs, considers an accountable officer’s failure to liquidate public funds or CFs for which they are accountable as “prima facie evidence that he has put such missing funds or property to personal use and benefit.”

“Presumption that it was converted for personal use or benefit, is this applicable to what you are saying?” Kapunan asked.