COA affirms with finality disallowance notice vs OVP’s P73M secret funds

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has “affirmed with finality” the notice of disallowance it issued on the P73 million confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

In a resolution dated Oct. 5, the COA said it denied the OVP’s motion for reconsideration filed against COA’s Notice of Disallowance (ND) on Aug. 8, 2024.

The matter pertains to the OVP’s confidential expenses for the period from December 21 to 31, 2022, worth P73.287 million.

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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), is hereby DENIED,” the 15-page resolution stated.

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“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 added.

COA, in its 2009 Revised Rules of Procedure, defines ND as “the disapproval in audit of a transaction, either in whole or in part.” 

Of the amount subject to the notice, the P69,787,000 was used for the purchase of rewards and P3,500,000 for the purchase of tables, chairs, desktops, computers and printers. 

“Disbursement of large public funds deserves no less: taxpayers’ money should always be spent with paramount consideration of full transparency and reasonable budget allocation,” the COA said in the resolution. 

“Indubitably, these cannot be wantonly sacrificed on the altar of exigency inasmuch as reckless handling and accounting of public funds have no place in a government that endeavors to keep inviolate the trust of the people,” the ruling concluded. /apl