Malacañang said Vice President Sara Duterte must explain the liquidation of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds following the Commission on Audit’s (COA) directive to return disallowed public funds.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro made the remarks during a press briefing with the Philippine media delegation in Singapore on October 9, 2026.
Castro said the directive could indicate problems with the liquidation of the funds or the supporting documents submitted to account for their use. She added that it could also raise questions about whether the money was used for purposes other than those authorized, although this does not automatically establish misuse.
“Kung nakita po ng COA na kailangan niyang ibalik ang pondo na ito, ibig lamang sabihin, lumalabas na hindi tama ang pag-liquidate at maaaring lumabas na nagamit sa iba ang pondo,” Castro said.
The Palace official stressed that Duterte must provide a clear explanation and appropriate documentation regarding the use of the confidential funds.
Castro also criticized what she described as the vice president's apparent lack of knowledge about the matter, referring to a remark previously made by Duterte’s spokesperson.
“Ano ulit ang magiging depensa dito? Ayon sa spokes. Magtangatangahan. Pero mind you, hindi po galing sa atin yung word na yun. Actually, ayaw natin gamitin. Kaya lang, siya yung nagsalita. So, gagamitin na lang natin. At ito ay mula sa kanyang sariling bibig,” Castro said.
She reiterated that the vice president should address the COA findings rather than claim ignorance about the matter.
“’Yan ang dapat na maipaliwanag ng bise presidente, hindi sa pamamagitan ng, again, gagamitin ko [ang] salita ng spokes, huwag sa pamamagitan ng magtangatangahan o feign ignorance,” Castro added.
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