Vice President Sara Duterte’s Office of the Vice President (OVP) used some of its confidential funds for Christmas activities, tree-planting, wheelchair distribution, medical missions, and other events, according to documents the OVP submitted to the Commission on Audit’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (COA-ICFAO) to justify the expenditures.
During the resumption of Duterte’s impeachment trial on Tuesday, Xylene Mae Del Campo, supervising auditor at the Commission on Audit-Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (COA-ICFAO), said several activities listed by the OVP as confidential expenses were not among those allowed under Joint Circular 2015-01, which sets the guidelines for the use of confidential funds.
Private prosecution lawyer Atty. Lorna Kapunan asked Del Campo about the activities listed in the OVP’s liquidation documents.
One of the entries was a December 13, 2022 “2022 Partners Appreciation Night” organized by the Department of Education in Mandaluyong City.
Kapunan asked whether an appreciation night qualified as a confidential activity under the joint circular.
“Based po doon sa enumeration kung saan gagamitin ang confidential fund, hindi po nakasama ito,” Del Campo said.
Del Campo also testified that tree-planting activities, Christmas parties, awarding ceremonies, appreciation nights, gift-giving activities and medical missions did not meet the requirements for confidential-fund expenditures.
Documents submitted by the OVP showed that its confidential funds were used for various activities in December 2022.
Among the listed activities were the following events:
- Department of Education - 2022 Partners Appreciation Night in Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
- Knights of Rizal Supreme Council - 60th year of the Institute in Baguio City - Youth Campaign on Patriotism
- Christmas activity in Happyland, Tondo, Manila
- Christmas activity and exploration meeting at the Extension Office in Barangay 101, Tondo
- Consultation with barangay chairmen ng Manila in Manila
- Pasasalamat and update meeting with TODA in Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City
- Pasasalamat and consultation meeting with TNVS, Angkas, and Food Delivery in Quezon City
- Pasasalamat and update meeting with PWD sector in Quezon City
The auditor explained that confidential funds are lump-sum appropriations in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) intended for confidential activities of government agencies.
"Ang confidential fund po ay ito po yung lump sum amount na nasa General Appropriations Act na gagamitin po for confidential activities po ng isang ahensya," del Campo said.
When Kapunan asked whether tree-planting activities and the numerous Christmas parties and awards ceremonies were allowed under the definition of confidential funds, Del Campo replied, “Hindi po.”
Del Campo said the OVP’s use of confidential funds for such activities prompted the COA-ICFAO to issue notices of disallowance.
The COA issued a notice of disallowance covering around ₱73.2 million in confidential funds spent by the OVP in the fourth quarter of 2022. It also issued notices covering the OVP’s ₱375 million in confidential funds for the first to third quarters of 2023.
Del Campo said the expenditures were disallowed because they were inconsistent with Joint Circular 2015-01.
She also testified that the OVP did not submit receipts to support some of the questioned confidential-fund expenditures.
She identified Duterte, Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, and Chief Accountant Juliet Villadelrey as accountable officers in connection with the transactions.
Senate President and impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero also pointed out that some of the activities listed in the documents appeared to have taken place before the confidential funds were released.
The testimony formed part of the House prosecution’s presentation in the impeachment trial of Duterte, who is facing allegations that include the alleged misuse of confidential funds during her tenure as vice president and education secretary.
