The Commission on Audit (COA) has recently confirmed that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) submitted over 1,200 deficient acknowledgment receipts. These receipts were meant to account for P125 million in confidential funds used over 11 days in December 2022. During a House of Representatives hearing, questions arose regarding the fund’s legitimacy and the accuracy of the receipts.
COA’s audit revealed discrepancies in the submitted documents, including incorrect dates and missing signatories. These errors raised concerns about the accountability of the OVP’s confidential funds. COA further highlighted that a significant portion of the expenditures remained unexplained, leading to a Notice of Disallowance. This notice identifies funds that should not have been spent or require further justification.
Reports indicate that out of the P125 million secret fund allocated to the OVP, over P73 million has been flagged by COA for irregularities. This has resulted in COA demanding the return of these funds. The flagged amount could not be accounted for properly, which sparked further investigation and scrutiny by lawmakers.
COA’s investigation into the OVP’s financial practices is part of its routine checks to ensure transparency and accountability in government spending. The confidential funds were reportedly used for various purposes, but the details provided in the acknowledgment receipts failed to meet COA’s standards for documentation.
The issue gained prominence when state auditors and lawmakers questioned the rapid deployment of the secret funds in a short time frame. The OVP reportedly spent the funds between December 21 and December 31, 2022, raising eyebrows regarding the speed and manner in which the funds were utilized.
Lawmakers have expressed concern over the handling of these funds and are considering legislative measures to prevent similar issues in the future. There is discussion of imposing stricter guidelines and limits on the use of confidential funds by government offices.
