Vice President Sara Duterte attends the House inquiry on her office’s budget utilization on Sept. 18, 2024.
The House Committee on Justice will focus on the increase in wealth and the Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of Vice President Sara Duterte in the next impeachment hearing scheduled for April 22.
In the hearing the day before yesterday, the notary public, representatives, and records from the Commission on Audit (COA), the House, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) were presented.
Among the items examined by the Justice panel were the detailed accounts of self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga regarding his connections to the Dutertes; the NBI’s findings that the acknowledgement receipts for confidential funds were written by a single person; the Commission on Audit’s (COA) notice of disallowance for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) from 2022 to 2023; and the PSA report on alleged beneficiaries of confidential funds who have no records of birth, death, or even marriage.
Based on the impeachment complaint, VP Duterte is accused of depositing P111 million in various banks in Davao City and Metro Manila from 2006 to 2015, which allegedly does not match her salary as Vice Mayor and Mayor of Davao City. It was noted that VP Duterte’s wealth increased from P13.8 million in 2007 to P44.8 million in 2017 despite her salary being only P2 million.
House Committee on Justice
The House Committee on Justice is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives, established to oversee matters related to the federal judiciary, civil rights, and constitutional law. Its history is deeply tied to the legislative branch’s role in the impeachment process, as it is often the first committee to hold hearings and draft articles of impeachment against federal officials.
Commission on Audit (COA)
The Commission on Audit (COA) is the supreme audit institution of the Republic of the Philippines, established by the 1987 Constitution. It is an independent body tasked with examining all government revenue, expenditure, and use of public resources to ensure accountability. Its origins trace back to the Auditing Office created under American colonial rule in 1899, evolving through various laws and charters to its current constitutional form.
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is the central statistical authority of the Philippine government, responsible for collecting, compiling, and disseminating official statistics. It was established in 2013 through the merger of four major statistical agencies to create a more efficient and integrated national statistical system. The PSA’s work, including the national census, provides critical data that informs government policy, business decisions, and socio-economic research.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is the primary investigative agency of the Philippine government, established in 1936 upon the recommendation of American investigator Raymond Cato. Modeled after the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), its history is rooted in the American colonial period and it has evolved to handle major criminal cases, forensic analysis, and national security matters.
Office of the Vice President (OVP)
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) is the executive agency that provides support to the Vice President of the Philippines in fulfilling constitutional duties, including succession to the presidency and advisory roles. Historically, its structure and functions have evolved through various constitutions and laws, with its modern form being shaped significantly after the 1987 Constitution to ensure a more defined and independent office separate from the President’s.
Davao City
Davao City is the largest city in the Philippines by land area and a major economic hub of Mindanao. Historically, it was inhabited by various indigenous groups before becoming a significant settlement under Japanese agricultural ventures in the early 20th century and later a chartered city in 1936. Today, it is known as the “Durian Capital” and as a gateway to natural attractions like Mount Apo, the country’s highest peak.
Metro Manila
Metro Manila is the bustling capital region of the Philippines, a dense urban agglomeration of 16 cities and one municipality. It was formally established in 1975 to unify the administration of Manila and its surrounding towns, but its core, the City of Manila, has a much longer history as a Spanish colonial capital founded in 1571. Today, it serves as the country’s political, economic, and cultural center, marked by a blend of modern skyscrapers and historic Spanish-era landmarks.
