Iloilo Third District Representative Lorenz “Nonoy” Defensor called the refusal of Vice President Sara Duterte to clarify the odd names on her confidential fund receipts a “clear betrayal of public trust.”
“That makes it even worse because it violates your oath on accountability on public trust. It’s a clear betrayal of public trust,” he said an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC).
According Defensor, one of the reasons why the impeachment complaint against Duterte proceeded was her failure to explain the alleged misuse of confidential funds.
The Ilonggo lawmaker said had Duterte properly addressed the issue on the use of P612.5 million in her confidential funds, she might not have been impeached by the lower house of Congress.
“If they told the truth, if they cooperated with Congress and answered our questions, maybe we wouldn’t be here. But they didn’t—and that’s why we are.”
Defensor will serve as one of the 11 prosecutors in the historic impeachment trial of Duterte.
The House of Representatives recently discovered more questionable names that received portions of Duterte’s confidential funds. Among these were “Amoy Liu,” “Fernan Amuy,” and “Joug De Asim.”IMT
