MANILA — House prosecutor and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila De Lima said the confidential classification of the PHP612.5 million released to Vice President Sara Duterte does not exempt its use from transparency, scrutiny, and accountability, as the prosecution formally began presenting evidence on the confidential funds released through the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Opening the prosecution’s presentation before the Senate impeachment court, De Lima stressed that while confidential funds are intended for sensitive government operations, the conduct of officials handling public money remains subject to constitutional standards.

“That the budget is intended for confidential operations does not mean that the conduct of officials involved in the handling of people’s money is exempted from the demands of transparency, scrutiny, and accountability,” De Lima said.

She illustrated her point by comparing government spending to a family budget, saying public funds should likewise be managed prudently.

“Sa ating pagba-budget para sa pamilya – dahil hindi naman unli ang pera – masinop ang ating paggasta. Sa talagang kailangan at kapaki-pakinabang natin nilalaan. Ganyan din dapat sa pera ng bayan,” she said.

De Lima explained that confidential funds are appropriations intended to support sensitive and surveillance-related activities of civilian agencies but emphasized that their classification does not diminish the accountability of public officials.

“Public office is a public trust. Iyan ang sabi ng Konstitusyon,” she said.

“Sakop nito ang lahat ng nasa gobyerno. At ang utos na iyan ay hindi pwedeng balewalain dahil lang sa ‘confidential’ ang pondo.”

She also said confidentiality is meant to protect legitimate operations and informants—not to conceal fabricated records or the alleged misuse of public funds.

“Hindi ito palusot para ibulsa ang pera. Kung ‘confidential’ ang pondo, lalo pa ngang mataas ang pananagutang kaakibat dito,” De Lima said.

Addressing the senator-judges, De Lima said the Constitution entrusts the impeachment court with determining whether Duterte committed impeachable offenses.

“The Constitution entrusts this Court with the solemn duty to determine whether the respondent Vice President committed culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. The evidence will show that she did,” she said.

De Lima said the impeachment case centers on the PHP612.5 million in confidential funds entrusted to Duterte through the OVP and the DepEd during her tenure as Vice President and Education secretary.