Beyond Confidential Funds: Nation Questions Impeachment Narrative

Vice President Sara Duterte

Beyond Confidential Funds: Nation Questions Impeachment Narrative

By Bing Jabadan – TheNATIONWEEK.com | August 4, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte enters its 11th day, public discourse increasingly questions whether the proceedings are a genuine pursuit of accountability or a strategic diversion from deeper systemic issues. While the spotlight intensely focuses on the Vice President’s confidential funds, a significant portion of the Filipino populace views these trials as a tactical maneuver by entrenched political figures to deflect attention from widespread allegations of corruption involving multi-trillion-peso schemes and pervasive “ghost projects.”

The impeachment case against Vice President Duterte centers on the alleged misuse of confidential funds totaling P612.5 million in 2022 and 2023. During recent testimonies, Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Roderick Wamil revealed that neither former Vice Presidents Jejomar Binay nor Leni Robredo had confidential fund allocations, making Duterte’s the first such appropriation for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during their respective tenures.

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan meticulously presented evidence, including 15 boxes of documents containing 3,664 individual records, with 3,617 acknowledgment receipts under scrutiny. Discrepancies in these receipts, including unusual names like “Andy Lim” and “Alejandro Pikit” (with some names humorously noted as sounding like “ang dilim” or “pikit”), have been highlighted by the prosecution.

Wamil’s testimony further detailed that the OVP’s use of P40 million in confidential funds for purchasing medicines, intended as rewards, was disallowed. This, he stated, falls outside the specified purposes outlined in the 2015 Joint Circular governing confidential expenditures. An additional P10 million in travel expenses linked to confidential operations faced similar disallowance. Earlier in April 2026, the COA had already flagged P375 million in OVP confidential funds, citing a lack of justification, missing supporting documents, and disbursements by unauthorized personnel.

However, the magnitude of the confidential funds, while substantial, is perceived by many Filipinos as relatively minor when weighed against the alleged “trillions of kickbacks” reportedly funneled into the pockets of a corrupt political elite through “flood control ghost projects” and other large-scale systemic illicit activities. This widespread sentiment suggests that the current impeachment proceedings, rather than addressing the core of grand corruption, may serve as a carefully orchestrated spectacle.

The Senate impeachment court has granted BDO Unibank and Security Bank an extension to submit Duterte’s financial records, allowing more time to comply with a subpoena issued on July 30. Meanwhile, House prosecutor Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon continues to challenge Vice President Duterte to appear at her trial, noting her sustained absence throughout the proceedings.

The persistent public suspicion that these trials are a “diversionary tactic” underscores a deeper crisis of faith in governance. For many, the focus on confidential funds, while important, overshadows a more profound narrative of systemic corruption that continues to plague the nation. The ongoing trial, therefore, is not just a legal battle; it is a critical moment for the nation to confront its perception of justice and accountability in the face of deep-seated societal challenges.

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