FACT CHECK: COA auditor not jailed or cited in contempt after VP Sara trial testimony

No arrest or contempt ruling was issued against state auditor Roderick Wamil — only a heated Senate exchange occurred in which the suggestion to cite him in contempt was raised but ultimately not acted upon

AT A GLANCE

• State auditor Roderick Wamil was falsely reported to have been arrested and cited in contempt by the Senate during Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.
• Two YouTube videos claimed Wamil was arrested, but they lacked evidence and only recycled commentary from Duterte-aligned vloggers.
• Wamil's testimony during the trial focused on irregularities in the Office of the Vice President's handling of confidential funds, but no formal contempt citation or arrest occurred.

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Claim: State auditor Roderick Wamil has been arrested and cited in contempt by the Senate after sharing his testimony during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: Two YouTube videos containing the claim were uploaded days apart.

The first, from channel “BANAT NEWS UPDATE,” posted August 6, is titled “Kapapasok lang! Ngayon lang! Kulong na! Matinding utos ng Senado! COA witness, arestado na! Deserve!” 

(Just in! Just now! Already jailed! Major order from the Senate! COA witness already arrested! Deserved!)

Its thumbnail reads, “Kulong na! Ngayon lang! Breaking news! COA witness! Arestado na?” 

(Already jailed! Just now! Breaking news! COA witness! Already arrested?)

The second video posted on August 7, from channel “BANAT KABAYAN TV,” is titled “Aray ko! COA witness, bilis ng karma? Grabe hatol ng Senado, Sen Imee e-contempt Atty. Wamil, iyak?” 

(Ouch! COA witness, karma struck fast? Wow, Senate’s ruling, Senator Imee holds Atty. Wamil in contempt, in tears?)

Text on its thumbnail reads, “Kulong na? Aray ko! COA witness, kinarma?” (Already jailed? Ouch! COA witness got karma?), with captions “Pinilit nyo ako!” (You forced me!) and “Contempt hatol ng Senado!” (Senate’s contempt ruling!)

As of writing, the two videos have drawn a combined 28,579 views and 1,233 likes.

The facts: Wamil was neither arrested nor held in contempt.

On the 13th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Senator-judge Imee Marcos clashed with Wamil while questioning him on who should be considered accountable for the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s confidential funds.

Marcos argued that Duterte was not the payee of the cash advances funded by the confidential funds. Wamil, however, explained that the head of the agency also bears responsibility in approving cash advances and overseeing the proper utilization of confidential funds.

During the exchange, an aide to Marcos was heard suggesting that she cite the state auditor in contempt, with Marcos exclaiming that Wamil had been arguing with her the whole time.

Presiding officer Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero intervened, asking Wamil to avoid arguing with the senator-judges, leading him to apologize. No formal contempt citation followed, and no arrest occurred after this incident. 

Both videos recycle the same commentary from Duterte-aligned vloggers Don Mar TV and Banat By discussing the Marcos-Wamil clash, but neither presents evidence of an arrest or contempt ruling — those claims exist only in the titles and thumbnails.

Wamil’s role in the VP trial: Wamil is a lawyer, certified public accountant, and former state auditor for the Commission on Audit’s Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office.

He testified as a witness across Days 11 to 13 of the Vice President’s impeachment trial, presenting findings on irregularities in the OVP’s liquidation of confidential funds, including acknowledgment receipts bearing questionable names and incomplete documentation. (READ: ‘Funny’ names in confidential funds receipts not issue for COA – Sara Duterte’s defense)

The testimony forms part of the evidence supporting Article I of the impeachment complaint against Duterte, which alleges the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds. – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com

Efren Cyril Bocar is a journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar who graduated with a degree in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. Cyril is also a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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