House prosecution trial adviser and former Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers on Friday said the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has had nearly four years to address the Commission on Audit's (COA) findings on its confidential and intelligence funds but has yet to submit additional documents to support its expenditures.
Speaking during a House prosecution panel press conference, Barbers noted that the issues stem from the 2022 Notice of Disallowance issued by COA covering confidential and intelligence fund expenditures of the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd).
"Remember, 2022 pa ito na nagkaroon ng issue tungkol sa notice of disallowance. 2026 na nga ngayon. Four years has passed. The Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education was given the opportunity to rectify or correct their submissions to COA. And wala pa," Barbers said.
He stressed that despite being given ample time to explain the questioned expenditures, no additional documents have been presented to prove that the funds were properly used for confidential and intelligence purposes.
"Four years, 2026 na ngayon, hanggang ngayon wala pa silang isinasubmit para patunayan na itong mga pondong ito ay ginamit talaga sa Confidential and Intelligence Fund. So surprising lamang na ito. It takes about four years," he added.
Barbers also said the ongoing impeachment trial presents what he described as the best opportunity for Vice President Sara Duterte's office to dispel allegations surrounding the use of confidential funds.
"This is the perfect and the most opportune time for the Office of the Vice President to clear her name by showing evidence, showing documents compliant with the Joint Circular, na walang anomalyang ginamit o ginawa ang kanilang opisina," he said.
However, Barbers maintained that the prosecution has yet to see any new documentary evidence beyond what had already been submitted to COA.
"As we speak, wala pa tayo nakikita. Napakadali naman sigurong mag-submit sa COA ngayon ng mga resibo. Mukhang wala. They always stuck with the submissions na ang karamihan ay puro acknowledgement receipts," he said.
He added that the continued reliance on acknowledgement receipts instead of other supporting documents raises serious questions regarding the liquidation of the confidential and intelligence funds.
The alleged misuse of confidential funds by the OVP and the DepEd forms part of Article I of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, which is currently being heard by the Senate impeachment court.
