FACT CHECK: Sara Duterte not cleared over alleged confidential funds misuse

Claim: Vice President Sara Duterte has been cleared over the alleged misuse of the confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The YouTube video bearing the claim currently has 50,860 views, 1,193 comments, and over 1,200 likes. It was posted on December 9 by a channel with over 30,300 subscribers.

The title of the video says: “Shocking news! VP Sarah absuelto? Malabo na ang impeachment?” (Shocking news! VP Sara has been acquitted? Impeachment is unlikely?)

A narrator repeats the claim at the start of the video. This was followed by clips of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s December 9 hearing.

The facts: Duterte has not been cleared of the alleged misuse of her offices’ confidential funds, and the impeachment bids against her remain active.

The House committee only announced that it would conclude its investigation into Duterte’s confidential funds due to the impeachment complaints filed against her. According to committee chair Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua, the possible impeachment process against the Vice President would be the proper venue for her to address the same allegations.

Chua also clarified this in the clip of the House hearing used in the misleading video. In response to questions from House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro, Chua said the committee is set to wrap up and summarize its findings from the seven previous committee hearings.

Under fire: Duterte has been hounded by controversy after congressional hearings uncovered alleged irregularities in the use of confidential funds by the OVP and DepEd. Her refusal to answer questions prompted lawmakers to cut the OVP’s budget for 2025. (READ: How OVP, DepEd disbursing officers violated rule on confidential funds)

The Vice President currently faces two impeachment complaints for betrayal of public trust, bribery, graft and corruption, violation of the Constitution, and other high crimes. The complaints were filed two days apart by civic and left-leaning organizations and were backed by several House members.

Previous fact-checks: Rappler has published several fact-checks related to Duterte:

– Barbra Althea Gavilan/Rappler.com

Barbra Althea Gavilan is a graduate of Rappler’s volunteer program. She is a fourth year Journalism student at the University of Santo Tomas. This fact-check was reviewed by a member of Rappler’s research team and a senior editor. Learn more about Rappler’s fact-checking mentorship program here.

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