VP Sara should explain dubious confidential funds recipients – Palace

FILE: Vice President Sara Duterte briefed senators on proposed 2025 budget of the Office of Vice President (OVP). For next year, the OVP is seeking a budget of P2.037 billion, which will be allotted to personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital outlay. (Photo: Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit via Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

By Darryl John Esguerra, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Malacañang on Monday called on Vice President Sara Duterte to explain the growing list of questionable recipients of confidential funds from her office.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized the need for Duterte to clarify the issue, following revelations that dubious names such as “Amoy Liu,” “Fernan Amuy,” and “Joug de Asim” – collectively referred to as “Team Amoy Asim” – were allegedly among the recipients of confidential funds of the Department of Education (DepEd) which she headed from June 2024 to July 19, 2025.

“We believe that VP Sara has the obligation to tell something about this, to tell something about these discoveries. Marami na pong naglilipana tungkol sa mga pekeng resibo na di umano na-issue ng opisina ni VP Sara (There have been a lot of speculations about alleged fake receipts issued by VP Sara’s office),” Castro said.

She added that while the Vice President has advocated for transparency, it would be ideal for her to take the initiative in explaining these developments.

“Sinasabi naman po niya na dapat po tayo ay may transparency, mas maganda po na mauna po siya na ipaliwanag ito (She said there should be transparency in governance, it would be better then if she will explain this issue),” she said.

Members of the House of Representatives have revealed dubious names of allegedly non-existent people as recipients of Duterte’s offices disbursed confidential funds.

According to House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V, “Team Amoy Asim” were recipients of the PHP112.5 million in confidential funds for the DepEd, when it was headed by Duterte.

Ortega added the names had no birth, marriage, or death records in the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Lawmakers previously questioned bizarre names on the list of confidential funds recipients in Duterte’s offices, which are attributed to chip products and cellphones such as “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Pia Piatos-Lim,” “Renan Piatos,” and “Xiaome Ocho.”