Four Office of the Vice President officials — including Vice President Sara Duterte herself — are now legally obligated to return P73 million in public funds after the Commission on Audit affirmed a notice of disallowance on the OVP’s 2022 confidential expenditures.
COA intelligence and confidential funds audit office head Gloria Camora identified the liable parties as Duterte, special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, chief accountant Julieta Villa del Rey, and chief of security Raymund Dante Lachica. Camora confirmed before the House justice committee on Tuesday that the affirmed disallowance creates a binding obligation for those named to restitute the amount to the government.
The disallowed amount covers two expenditures made between December 21 and 31, 2022 — P69,787,000 for the purchase of rewards, and P3,500,000 for tables, chairs, desktop computers, and printers. COA ruled that the OVP failed to demonstrate these expenditures were applied to legitimate confidential activities.
A notice of disallowance, as defined by the commission, is an official finding that a government transaction was irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant, or illegal. It also functions as prima facie evidence of misuse or improper documentation.
Camora read the commission’s ruling denying the Vice President’s appeal during Tuesday’s House justice committee hearing on impeachment complaints filed against Duterte.
Separate from the 2022 findings, COA has already issued additional notices of disallowance covering P375 million in confidential funds the OVP liquidated across the first three quarters of 2023. Camora said those NDs were issued due to the OVP’s non-compliance with Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which governs the entitlement, release, use, reporting, and audit of confidential funds.
Camora was unable to elaborate further on the 2023 disallowances, as the relevant documents have yet to be formally submitted to the House committee. She noted, however, that the OVP retains 180 days to file an appeal against the new findings.
