MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio and two Office of the Vice President (OVP) officials were held liable by the Commission on Audit (COA) for P73 million in confidential fund expenditures that lacked sufficient supporting documents or failed to comply with government auditing rules, a state auditor told the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday.
COA-Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office auditor Xylene del Campo testified on the 14th day of Duterte-Carpio’s impeachment trial that the three were named responsible in a Notice of Disallowance covering part of the OVP’s P125-million confidential fund for 2022.
Del Campo identified Duterte-Carpio, as head of the agency; special disbursing officer Gina Acosta; and chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey as the officials held liable.
“Wala po itong mga resibo. Ang mga persons po na liable or responsible is, first po, the head of agency, Vice President Sara Duterte, the special disbursing officer, si Ms. Gina Acosta, at ang chief accountant po, na si Ms. Julieta Villadelrey,” Del Campo said.
She explained that COA issues a Notice of Disallowance when government spending is found to be irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant or unconscionable.
Del Campo also flagged an apparent discrepancy in the timing of expenses submitted by the OVP to liquidate the confidential fund.
She told the impeachment court that the OVP submitted documents covering expenses supposedly incurred from Dec. 13 to 18, 2022, even though the P125-million confidential fund was released to the office only on Dec. 21, 2022.
The activities listed in the documents included a youth patriotism campaign, Christmas parties and activities, and a thanksgiving gathering.
Del Campo said the expenses were outside the period covered by the OVP’s accomplishment report and were not allowable under Joint Circular 2015-01, which governs the use of confidential and intelligence funds.
“These activities from December 13 to 18 are not covered by the period of utilization as stated in OVP’s accomplishment report,” she said.
Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero then asked whether confidential funds could be used to cover expenses incurred before the funds were actually released.
“Yes po. Under Joint Circular, there is also a portion which states that confidential fund cannot be used for reimbursement,” Del Campo replied.
Of the P73 million disallowed by COA, about P69 million involved reward payments, including P10 million in cash rewards, P34.857 million worth of various goods and P24.93 million worth of medicines.
COA said the OVP failed to submit documents showing that the information-gathering or surveillance activities supposedly supported by the reward payments had actually produced successful results.
Another P3.5 million was questioned for the purchase of tables, chairs, desktop computers and printers.
According to COA, the supporting documents failed to establish that the equipment was intended for confidential operations as required under the joint circular.
Duterte-Carpio has denied allegations that she misused confidential funds.
The impeachment court is currently hearing Article I of the charges against the Vice President, which accuses her of the systematic misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of P500 million released to the OVP and P112.5 million allocated to the Department of Education during her tenure as Education secretary./PN
