COA Denies Appeal, Orders Return of P73.2M Confidential Funds from OVP
The Commission on Audit (COA) has upheld its decision, compelling Vice President Sara Duterte and other officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to return P73,287,000 in confidential funds. This ruling came after COA dismissed their appeal against a notice of disallowance, citing significant lapses in compliance with audit regulations.
Lack of Documentary Evidence Leads to Disallowance
During a hearing of the House Committee on Justice, Gloria Camora, representing COA's Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office, revealed that the OVP failed to adhere to a joint circular. Specifically, the office could not provide sufficient documentary evidence to justify the payments made from these funds. The disallowed amount pertains to a portion of the P125 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP for the final quarter of 2022.
Additional Disallowances and Legal Options
Justice Committee chair Rep. Gerville Luistro highlighted that this is not an isolated case. He noted that an additional P375 million from the OVP's confidential funds for 2023 has also been disallowed by COA. According to the audit body, P69.7 million was disallowed due to a lack of proof supporting intelligence operations, while P3.5 million was flagged for expenditures on items with no clear connection to confidential activities.
Despite the ruling, the OVP retains the option to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The House Committee on Justice is currently awaiting the official copy of COA's decision before proceeding with further actions. This development underscores ongoing scrutiny over the use of public funds and emphasizes the importance of transparency in government expenditures.
