House committee investigates 677 individuals linked to Vice President Duterte's confidential funds

A House committee in the Philippines is verifying the identities of 677 individuals linked to Vice President Sara Duterte's confidential funds. This follows concerns raised after two names checked by the Philippine Statistics Authority were found to be non-existent. The committee's inquiry suggests potential misuse of funds, as significant amounts were allegedly disbursed to fictitious recipients. The Vice President's office spent P125 million in just 11 days in December 2022, raising questions about the legitimacy of the transactions. In response to these findings, the House has removed confidential funds from the 2024 budget for the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. This decision reflects growing tensions between the Duterte and Marcos administrations.