Camp of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Speaks on COA Findings
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President spoke on the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) amid the allegations of misused Confidential Funds.
Undeniably, the term “Confidential Funds” has sparked countless headlines already amid the accusations of misused Confidential Funds against Vice Pres. Duterte in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and during her term as the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
Last February, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives amid the allegations. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s camp has constantly maintained that they are willing to address questions in the proper forum. Prior to the start of the 20th Congress, the Supreme Court declared the impeachment case against Duterte as “unconstitutional” for not following the one-year rule in the Constitution. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s camp welcomed the decision of the high court.
Malacañang expressed respect on the ruling of the Supreme Court but clarified that it does not necessarily mean that they agree with the decision of the court. The ruling was immediately executory but a motion for reconsideration may be filed.
In fact, several groups of complainants and the House of Representatives have already filed MRs before the Supreme Court. Amid the recent developments, the Senate voted to archive the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Duterte.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s camp spoke on the findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) over the budget spending of the Office of the Vice President. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Atty. Michael Poa claimed that the Commission did not mention any pocketed funds of the OVP in its findings from the audit observation memorandum to the notice of disallowance.
“If you look at the findings of COA, whether it be from the audit observation memorandum, which is the first issuance of their findings all the way to the notice of disallowance, walang nakasulat doon na merong korupsiyon na nangyari or may binulsang pera,” Poa said.
Based on the report, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s camp said that what COA stated in its findings is its request for the submission of more documents to see that the OVP really spent the funds right.
“Ang nakasulat doon may kakulangan sa mga dokumentong na-submit that’s why they’re asking OVP to submit more documentation para makita talaga na maayos yung paggasta ng pera,” the lawyer added.
For 2026, the office of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is not asking for any Confidential Funds. It is the second time around that the OVP refused to seek for confidential and intelligence funds amid the accusations against her. The Vice President also claimed that she expects cuts from the P903-million budget sought by her office for next year.