A state auditor testified on Tuesday that Vice President Sara Duterte and two other officials from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) are liable for the disallowance of over ₱73 million in 2022 confidential expenses.
Testifying on the 14th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Xylene Mae del Campo of the Commission on Audit (COA) Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office explained that the Vice President was cited because she authorized the questioned transactions and the use of the cash advances.
“Ang mga persons na liable, responsible ay first, head of agency, Vice President Sara Duterte,” Del Campo stated during direct examination by private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan.
The August 8, 2024 notice of disallowance also identified OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, who disbursed the advance, and OVP chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey, who certified the supporting documents.
The disallowed sum represents part of the OVP’s ₱125-million confidential fund spent in December 2022. COA flagged ₱69.7 million used for rewards, goods, and medicines due to missing documentation verifying successful intelligence operations, alongside ₱3.5 million spent on office equipment and computers that lacked proof of being used for confidential activities.
Del Campo noted that several transactions were missing sales invoices or official receipts.
COA has already rejected the appeal filed by Duterte, Acosta, and Villadelrey, affirming the disallowance. Auditors noted the funds must be returned to the national treasury once the ruling becomes final.
Del Campo, a COA auditor since 2014 with experience auditing dozens of government agencies and local units, testified as the trial focused on Article I of the impeachment complaint concerning the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in OVP and DepEd confidential funds.