Ridon to Duterte: Return OVP secret funds as COA affirms disallowance

MANILA, Philippines — Public prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has appealed to Vice President Sara Duterte to return the P73 million confidential funds (CF) allocated to her office in 2022.

His call comes as the Commission on Audit (COA) affirmed an initial decision to disallow it.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ridon even used an often-used closing statement — ‘Shukran,’ an Arabic word that means ‘thank you.’

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COA earlier stated that it “affirmed with finality” the notice of disallowance (ND) issued against the P73 million of the P125 million CF provided to the Office of the Vice President for the fourth quarter of 2022. 

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The final ruling is in response to the motion for reconsideration filed by Duterte and her OVP staff.

“On the confidential funds MR denial. Madam Vice President, please return the funds,” Ridon said in a message to reporters.

“Shukran,” he noted.

COA’s resolution dated October 5 rejected the OVP’s MR against COA’s ND issued last August 8, 2024, concerning the office’s P73.287 million confidential expenses for December 21 to 31, 2022.

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“The Motion for Reconsideration of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte; Ms. Gina F. Acosta, Special Disbursing Officer; and Ms. Julieta L. Villadelrey, Chief Accountant; all of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), are hereby DENIED,” the 15-page resolution said.

“Accordingly, Commission on Audit (COA) Decision No. 2026-171 dated April 10, 2026, which affirmed COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office Notice of Disallowance No. 2024-002-100 (2022) dated August 8, 2024, on the confidential expenses of the OVP, for the period from December 21 to 31, 2022, in the amount of P73,287,000.00, is AFFIRMED with FINALITY,” it ruled.

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Ridon first said Duterte and other OVP staff members’ liabilities may reach P448 million if COA affirms with finality the ND on the P73 million CF under OVP and another ND on the P375 million CF in 2023.

Last April, Ridon said that the COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (ICFAO) has emphasized in its report that the funds must be “used strictly for legitimate intelligence activities.”

The commission also said the funds “must be supported by adequate documentation, even when certain details remain confidential.”

READ: P375-M secret OVP funds banned over wrong use, unauthorized execs – Ridon

During the impeachment trial against Duterte, the prosecution panel presented state auditors for Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which delves on allegations of CF misuse within Duterte’s office.

At one point, COA auditor Xylene Mae del Campo said that several activities cited by Duterte’s office as the reason behind confidential expenses are not allowed.

Del Campo cited Joint Circular No. 2015-01 which set guidelines on how CFs must be used.

The activities that are not covered include tree-planting, provision of wheelchairs, and even Christmas parties.

READ: OVP listed tree planting, Christmas party as secret expenses – auditor

Aside from this, state auditor Roderick Wamil also said that part of the OVP’s CF was used to buy medicines for rewards to confidential informants — a matter not allowed under the circular.

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Many of the OVP’s confidential expenses also lacked supporting documents. /apl