Duterte liable for OVP irregular confidential fund use in Dec 2022

By Jose Cielito Reganit, Philippine News Agency

(PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – A state auditor of the Commission on Audit (COA) said Vice President Sara Z. Duterte is liable for irregularities found in the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in December 2022.

Xylene Mae del Campo, supervising auditor of the COA-Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (COA-ICFAO), testified before the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday that a notice of disallowance was issued by the agency for PHP73.28 million in confidential funds utilized by the OVP for the period Dec. 13 to 31, 2022.

Del Campo said the OVP failed to show proof of success in evidence gathering and surveillance activities, which is required in the payment of rewards using confidential funds.

A total of 105 activities were included by the OVP in its response but Del Campo said no particular accomplishment was cited as evidence to support the success of the confidential activities.

“Based po sa document na ‘to, hindi po napakita dito na ‘yung proof of success of the information gathering. At may mga activities din dito na from Dec. 13, 15, 17, 18 na hindi sakop doon sa period of utilization nung (Based on this document, the proof of success on the information gathering could not be shown. And there are activities here, from Dec. 13, 15, 17, 18, that was not covered under the period of utilization of the) cash advance, which is for Dec. 21 to 31, 2022,” Del Campo said.

Del Campo cited the provisions of Joint Circular 2015-01 that is being used by COA as the guidelines on the use and liquidation on the use of confidential and intelligence funds.

Under the circular, she said the use of these funds are subject to three conditions: It should be approved by the head of agency; it should be supported with documents evidencing success of the information gathering and/or surveillance activities on account of the information given by the informer; and it should be directly related to the confidential activities of the agency.

Among the sample of confidential activities, presented by counsel for the prosecution lawyer Lorna Kapunan from the submissions of the OVP, were an appreciation night with Department of Education partners and Christmas activities with transportation network vehicle service, tricycle operators and drivers association, Angkas, and food delivery drivers, as well as persons with disabilities.

A total of PHP69.78 million in confidential fund use was also disallowed by the COA-ICFAO because these went to the purchase of tables, chairs, desktop computers and printers without any explanation on how these relate to confidential activities, and without any official receipts or sales invoices to support the purchases.

Del Campo said her draft notice of disallowance was approved by COA Assistant Commissioner Nilda Plaras as Officer-in-Charge of COA-ICFAO.

Asked by Kapunan who were liable for the disallowed uses of the confidential funds, Del Campo said Duterte was first on the list as head of agency and for approving the transactions, including the utilization of cash advances.

Also liable is Gina Acosta as the special disbursing officer for her role as the payee of the checks drawn by the OVP from its confidential funds and for disbursing the cash advances.

The third liable official cited by Del Campo is Julieta Villadelrey, chief accountant of the OVP who certified the supporting documents were complete and proper.

Del Campo said the OVP filed a petition for review with the COA on Feb. 5, 2025, but on April 10, the COA proper affirmed the notice of disallowance, including the demand for the return of PHP73.287 million in confidential funds.

A motion of reconsideration was filed by the OVP, which Del Campo said has a pending resolution.

This article is republished from PNA.