The House Committee on Good Governance and Public Accountability chair Rep. Joel Chua has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to place seven officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) due to their refusal to attend a House of Representatives inquiry on the alleged misuse of OVP funds.
This move is linked to Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement that she is leaving the budget of her office in the hands of the lawmakers.
Chua asked the DOJ to issue an ILBO for Atty. Zuleika T. Lopez, Chief of Staff of the OVP; Atty. Lemuel G. Ortonio, Assistant Chief of Staff and Chairperson of the Bids and Awards of the OVP; Atty. Rosalynne L. Sanchez, Director for Administrative and Financial Services of the OVP; Gina F. Acosta, Special Disbursing Officer of the OVP; Julieta Villadelrey, Chief Accountant of the OVP; Edward D. Fajarda, Special Disbursing Officer of the Department of Education, now with the OVP; and Atty. Sunshine Charry A. Fajarda, former Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
In his letter, Chua explained that he asked the DOJ with the same hope of “safeguarding government funds from erring public officials”.
“During our committee meeting on even date, subpoena ad testificandum was issued to the following officials of the Office of the Vice President for their continued refusal to attend Congressional inquiry,” he said.
Chua also said the testimonies of the said officials are crucial to the inquiry that they are holding.
“We have information that these individuals may be preparing to leave the country. Considering these developments, I earnestly request your office to issue a Lookout Bulletin Order against these personalities. This action is imperative to monitor their movements and prevent any potential attempt to flee the country, which could significantly hinder our investigation and the broader efforts to uphold the integrity of public service,” he said.
