OVP spends P16-M on safehouse rentals for 11 days: COA

By Filane Mikee Cervantes, Philippine News Agency

HOUSE PROBE. Lawyer Gloria Camora, Commission on Audit (COA) Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Officer, answers questions during the House Committee on Good Government hearing on Thursday (Oct. 17, 2024). Camora told the panel that based on the Office of Vice President’s accomplishment report, the office spent PHP16 million on the rental of 34 safehouses in just 11 days in December 2022. (Photo courtesy of the House Press and Public Affairs Bureau)

MANILA – The Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent PHP16 million on the rental of 34 safehouses for just 11 days in December 2022, according to its accomplishment report submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA).

The report on the OVP’s use of PHP125 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) over just 11 days was presented before the House of Representatives Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Thursday.

Lawyer Gloria Camora, COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Officer, said the rental payments were backed by acknowledgment receipts covering the dates Dec. 21 to 31, 2022, noting that these complied with the documentary requirements outlined in the COA joint circular on the use of CIFs.

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, committee chair, questioned the nature and rental prices of the safehouses, which cost up to PHP91,000 per day – more than the rates at luxury resorts like Shangri-La Boracay, where a stay costs about PHP25,000 per night.

“Hindi po ba kayo nagtaka kung bakit ganoon kamahal?

Wala po kayong information kung gaano kalaki ang building? (Did you not wonder why it was so expensive? Did you not have any information on how big the building was)?” Chua asked Camora.

Camora admitted that the audit team had no information regarding the size or location of the rented properties.

Antipolo City 2nd District Rep.

Romeo Acop expressed frustration over COA’s capacity to verify the authenticity of the information on the acknowledgment receipts as the agency depended primarily on documentary proof of payment.

“So, walang paraan ang COA para malaman kung gawa-gawa lang ang mga acknowledgment receipts na sinubmit (So, COA has no way of knowing if the acknowledgment receipts submitted were just fabricated)? Would my statement be correct?” Acop asked.

“Yes, Mr. Chair,” Camora replied, admitting that the receipts provided were the only basis for validating the rental payments.

The receipts were often unsigned, illegible, or missing names and lacked supporting documents, such as lease contracts.

Manila 1st District Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr., meanwhile, noted the inconsistencies in the OVP’s safehouse rental spending between the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023.

Despite the high rental prices in the last quarter of 2022, the OVP spent the same amount – PHP16 million – for safehouse rentals in both the first and second quarters of 2023, covering 53 days and 67 days, respectively.

For the third quarter of 2023, Camora confirmed the OVP spent PHP5 million in 79 days.

“Mathematics lang eh (It’s just mathematics) – 11 days versus 53 days,” Dionisio said.

He further highlighted the apparent disparity in spending across different quarters.

“Hindi po ba na parang nakakapagtaka na 5 million (pesos) napagkasya sa 79 days tapos medyo extreme kumpara sa Quarter 4 ng 2022 na 16 million for 11 days (Isn’t it a bit strange that PHP5 million lasted 79 days, and it is quite extreme compared to the fourth quarter of 2022 where PHP16 million lasted 11 days)?” Dionisio said.

Camora acknowledged the issue, agreeing that the 2022 spending appeared disproportionately high.

“Steep nga po lalo na po ‘yung sa 2022 since 11 days lang po siya (It was indeed steep, especially in 2022 since it was only 11 days),” she said.

Dionisio called for stricter oversight of public funds and more comprehensive documentation.

“That’s the reason why importante itong Committee ng Blue Ribbon (this Committee of Blue Ribbon is important), in aid of legislation, so we can craft laws to prevent this from happening again,” he said.