The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte plans to challenge before the Supreme Court the Commission on Audit’s (COA) decision disallowing more than ₱73 million in confidential funds spent by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Defense team spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said they will file a petition for certiorari questioning the COA Commission Proper’s decision.

“When we filed our motion for reconsideration, we were always hoping for the best but also expecting the worst,” Poa said. “We anticipated that this might have been the resolution of the COA Commission Proper and we've always been ready with that.”

Poa said the legal team would elevate the matter to the Supreme Court through a petition for certiorari under Rule 64 in relation to Rule 65 of the Rules of Court.

He said the camp has yet to receive an official copy of the COA decision.

“I checked with OVP yesterday and I'm also monitoring today. Wala pa kaming nakukuha na kopya,” Poa said, adding that the commission was expected to send a copy to the OVP’s counsel by email or hard copy.

Poa said the legal team would wait for the official copy before filing the necessary petition with the Supreme Court.