QUEZON CITY, Philippines — House prosecutors have expressed support for the Commission on Audit’s (COA) final decision affirming the disallowance of ₱73.28 million in confidential expenses incurred by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
The COA ruling upheld its previous notice of disallowance concerning the OVP’s confidential expenditures during a 10-day period in December 2022.
Lawmakers Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal Party-list) and Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro Party-list), who both serve on the House prosecution team, called for full restitution following COA’s denial of the motion for reconsideration.
”Madam Vice President, pakisoli na yung pera. Shukran,” said Ridon on Wednesday, October 7 upon hearing the news that COA denied the OVP’s motion for reconsideration (MR).
Ridon used “Shukran,” an Arabic word meaning thank you, mimicking Vice President Sara Duterte’s signature closing term. Duterte is currently facing an impeachment trial before the Senate.
The ₱73.28 million form part of the ₱125 million in secret funds allegedly misused during Duterte’s initial months in office. The alleged overall misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds serves as one of the four key articles of impeachment against the Vice President.
Highlighting the constitutional authority of the audit body, De Lima pointed out that the decision confirms improper financial management within the executive office.
”Pinagtitibay lang nito ang desisyon ng COA ukol sa maling paggamit ng confidential funds ng [OVP] sa pamumuno ni VP Sara,” de Lima said.
”Ito na ang final say sa usaping ito ng COA, a constitutionally independent commission at supreme audit institution sa ating bansa,” underscored the lawmaker, who is known as a staunch political rival of former President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President’s father.
”₱73 milyong piso ito na dapat isauli ng OVP at mapunta sa kapakinabangan ng taumbayan,” she noted.