Findings by the Commission on Audit (COA) on the questioned use of confidential funds may still be used as a basis for impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, even without a definitive ruling of misuse, according to Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon.
In a television interview on Tuesday, Ridon underscored the distinction between audit proceedings and impeachment cases, stressing that the two operate under different standards and authorities.
“Because impeachment proceedings are entirely separate proceedings from the COA,” he said. “They (COA) have their own rules on audit. We have our own rules on determining which are impeachable offenses.”
Ridon made the statement following confirmation by COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office head Atty. Gloria Camora that the commission had denied the appeal of the Office of the Vice President and affirmed the disallowance of ₱73.28 million in confidential expenses spent over an 11-day period in December 2022.
The ruling directs Duterte and other accountable officials to return the funds after failing to comply with the joint circular governing the use of confidential and intelligence expenses.
For Ridon, such non-compliance with stringent rules on confidential funds may already amount to a serious breach of public duty.
“I think that constitutes a betrayal of public trust … Kasi ‘yung confidential funds talagang very strict ‘yung paggamit n’yan,” he said.
“Dapat hindi ‘yan ginagamit for a non-confidential nature. Lalo’t higit, ito po ay dapat ginagamit para sa pagtitiyak po ng national security, internal security po ng ating bansa,” he added.
The lawmaker pointed out that even if the disallowed ₱73.28 million is eventually refunded in accordance with COA’s directive, it would not necessarily preclude impeachment proceedings.
He explained that COA’s mandate is limited to determining whether government spending complies with auditing rules, while Congress has the authority to assess whether the same actions rise to the level of an impeachable offense.
“As far as COA is concerned, it’s just a question of whether or not the use of confidential funds conformed with the Joint Circular in the use of confidential funds. So that’s an entirely separate proceeding,” Ridon said.
Ridon added that lawmakers may interpret COA’s findings of non-compliance as indicative of a possible “betrayal of public trust,” which is among the constitutional grounds for impeachment.