The Commission on Audit (COA) has directed the conduct of a special audit on the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) following complaints of anomalous disbursements amounting to ₱2.2 billion.
In a letter dated August 11, 2025 addressed to BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim Macacua, COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordoba confirmed that complaints were filed against Education Minister Mohagher Iqbal involving questionable transactions.
Anomalous Transactions
According to the initial review, the flagged disbursements include ₱1,772,251,519.17 in payments made in a single day, allegedly circumventing the Finance Division’s standard review process by issuing checks directly to individual personnel, including the cashier and a ₱449,236,636.20 issued to a supplier under questionable circumstances.
COA said these transactions raised serious concerns, prompting the decision to form a special audit team.
“Following the initial review by the relevant COA offices, the complaints merit the conduct of a special audit. We are already in the process of constituting a special audit team to audit the subject transactions,” the stated in the letter
The Commission also sought the assistance of the Chief Minister’s office for the entire duration of the audit and assured coordination with BARMM authorities throughout the process.
