Day 14 of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial resumed on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following a one-day suspension caused by heavy monsoon rains. The trial continued with Commission on Audit (COA) Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office auditor Xylene Mae del Campo back on the witness stand to testify regarding allegations of misuse of confidential funds. Del Campo provided further details on how certain expenditures attributed to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) violated regulatory guidelines set forth in Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which governs the use of confidential and intelligence funds. The prosecution raised concerns during the session that the defense was deliberately delaying the trial by agreeing to compare thousands of acknowledgment receipts only on August 14, despite a court directive issued the previous week. Private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. warned that these procedural delays could prolong the process significantly. He also cautioned that Duterte’s public criticisms of the prosecution might violate the sub judice rule, which prohibits individuals involved in ongoing legal matters from making statements that could prejudice the proceedings. Prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan accused the defense of failing to respond to repeated requests for a meeting, suggesting that the defense was treating the prosecution with disregard. Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero responded by noting that while the prosecution was not “stood up,” they may have been “ghosted” by the defense. Escudero ordered the defense to submit its pre-marked evidence to the court to facilitate the comparison process. Del Campo testified that several activities listed in the OVP’s liquidation reports, such as tree planting, wheelchair distribution, and Christmas parties, were not permissible uses of confidential funds under Joint Circular No. 2015-01. She also confirmed that some OVP disbursements were invalid because the expenses were incurred before the P125 million allocated for 2022 had even been encashed. Among the acknowledgment receipts presented were payees with unusual names such as “Pampano,” “Keso,” and “Kamote,” as well as names resembling those of current and former senators, including Revilla, Hontiveros, and Lapid. Outside the courtroom, the Department of Justice confirmed it had filed three counts of grave threats against Duterte before the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City. However, her legal team expressed confidence that the case would be dismissed. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri proposed moving the trial to afternoon sessions beginning at 3 p.m., aiming to extend the duration of proceedings and avoid interruptions due to the Senate’s legislative schedule. The prosecution’s arguments centered around the legality of the OVP’s use of confidential funds, particularly in relation to events such as Christmas parties and tree-planting campaigns. According to Joint Circular No. 2015-01, confidential funds cannot be used for representation, consultancy fees, or entertainment expenses. Section 6.1.2 of the same circular explicitly forbids using confidential funds for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the granting of a cash advance. Del Campo, who authored the notice of disallowance against the OVP, stated that the agency was required to return P73 million out of its P125 million confidential fund allocation for 2022. The trial has drawn attention to the broader implications of the OVP’s financial practices, with critics questioning the transparency and accountability of the administration. As the proceedings continue, the focus remains on clarifying the extent of the alleged violations and determining whether the evidence presented meets the threshold for impeachment. The outcome of the trial will likely influence future governance and oversight mechanisms within the executive branch.
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