Auditor Details OVP's Missing Proof for P125 Million Confidential Funds in Duterte Trial

In a recent ANC 24/7 report, House prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua and House prosecution panel spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong weighed in on state auditor Roderick Wamil's testimony during Day 11 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate impeachment court in Pasay City. The report highlighted how the prosecution panel addressed gaps in documentation for confidential funds at the Office of the Vice President. Chua and Adiong emphasized the need for stricter oversight on such expenditures.

Auditor Details OVP's Missing Proof for P125 Million Confidential Funds in Duterte Impeachment Trial

Manila, Philippines — The fifth week of the Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte focused on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses her of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds at the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education.

Proceedings Open with Document Review at Pasay City Senate Court

The Senate impeachment court, presided over by Sen. Chiz Escudero, suspended proceedings for more than 15 minutes on Monday as prosecution and defense reviewed more than 3,000 documents tied to Article I. The defense agreed to stipulate to most documents, which spared the court from examining 10 of 15 boxes of evidence. However, the defense refused to stipulate to the 845 acknowledgment receipts covering the OVP's fourth-quarter 2022 spending.

The Senate impeachment court is composed of senators acting as judges, and conviction requires a vote of at least two-thirds of all senators. This structure ensures that any decision carries broad institutional weight across the upper chamber in Manila. The trial follows a 92-day trial calendar agreed to by both the House prosecution panel and the defense, setting a clear timeline for all parties involved.

Prosecutors have repeatedly called out the Vice President's absence from trial sessions, noting that her presence would demonstrate respect for the process. When she does attend, it signals engagement with the accountability mechanisms at the heart of the proceedings in Pasay City.

State Auditor Roderick Wamil Takes the Stand as Third Witness

Roderick Wamil, who audited funds at the Commission on Audit's Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office and now leads an audit team at COA Pasig, testified under direct examination by prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan. Defense counsel Michael Poa represented the Vice President's side. Wamil confirmed that the OVP produced acknowledgment receipts and little else to prove compliance with the 2015 joint circular on confidential funds.

Wamil said he does not know how the OVP answered the notice of suspension because he had been transferred to another COA unit by then. His testimony focused strictly on the records he examined while still assigned to the case. This shift in personnel left some questions about follow-up actions unanswered during the session.

The Commission on Audit plays a central role in reviewing public expenditures across agencies in Quezon City and beyond. Wamil's appearance marked the third witness in the sequence, building on earlier presentations about fund handling at the OVP.

Requirements of the 2015 Joint Circular on Confidential Funds

The 2015 joint circular requires that payments to informers receive approval from the agency head, tie to a specific confidential activity, and include documents showing that information gathering or surveillance succeeded. Wamil stated that most OVP receipts lacked supporting documents evidencing success in those activities. He noted that purchases of tables, chairs, desktop printers, and computers carried no documents linking them to confidential operations.

These rules aim to prevent misuse of funds meant for sensitive operations in agencies like the OVP. Without proper linkage, expenditures risk falling outside the circular's narrow allowances for intelligence work.

Lawmakers in Congress have begun pushing to limit confidential funds to select agencies only, recognizing that broad access invites scrutiny. This push reflects ongoing debates in the House of Representatives about tightening controls on such budgets.

Specific Acknowledgment Receipts Examined in Court

Kapunan presented receipts showing P70,000 paid to "Mary Grace Piattos" for a reward in medicines and P295,000 paid to "Mico P. Harina" for supplies. Other receipts named Nova Santos, Renan Piattos, Janice Revilla, Patty Ting, and Andi Lim. Wamil testified that the Piattos receipt lacked documents evidencing success as required by the joint circular. He added that the store where medicines were bought was not itself confidential, stating that what matters is the use of the funds, not the seller.

Mary Grace Piattos had been included among the prosecution's witnesses earlier in the proceedings even as prosecutors noted the name may not correspond to a real person. The name became a subject of public discussion and memes across social media in the Philippines. This highlighted how unusual recipient names drew attention during the trial.

OVP Charged Medical Aid and Incentives to Confidential Funds

Wamil confirmed that the OVP charged P40 million for medical and food aid and P10 million for incentives and travel to its confidential funds. Neither medicines nor food appear as legitimate expenses under the joint circular. These entries appeared in a revised accomplishment report filed the same afternoon auditors attempted to serve an Audit Observation Memorandum at the OVP office and found no authorized person to receive it.

Such charges raise questions about how confidential funds intersect with regular public services in communities from Manila to Davao. Families relying on government aid expect clear separation between operational needs and sensitive expenditures.

Notice of Suspension Issued Over Fourth-Quarter 2022 Funds

Wamil issued a notice of suspension over the fourth-quarter 2022 confidential funds, flagging disbursements that appeared illegal, irregular, or improper. Annex A of the notice shows P25.66 million liquidated with acknowledgment receipts dated December 2023, a year after the covered period, and P3.27 million supported by receipts carrying no date. The receipts totaled P125.15 million, exceeding by P150,000 the P125 million the OVP reported in its accomplishment report.

House Prosecutors Address Press Conference After Adjournment

Benjamin Tolosa Jr., legal spokesperson of the House prosecution panel, questioned whether it was probable to spend P125 million within just 11 days. He noted Vice President Sara Duterte's signatures on disbursement vouchers and liquidation reports, which certified the legality and proper use of the funds. Rep. Joel Chua said the prosecution will present expert witnesses to analyze signatures of confidential fund recipients and that special disbursing officers should hold permanent agency posts.

Tolosa said "We're dismayed na wala siya" while noting that when the Vice President does attend, it shows respect for the process. Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the funds were quickly encashed and quickly spent, commenting on the P70,000 medicine claim tied to "Mary Grace Piattos" that they might plan to put up a pharmacy.

Rep. Joel Chua defended Congress' approval of the Vice President's confidential and intelligence funds, noting that Office of the President and OVP budgets are rarely scrutinized by Congress. Chua said lawmakers are pushing to limit confidential funds to select agencies. He added that special disbursing officers should hold permanent agency posts rather than temporary designations.

Philippine Context: Confidential Funds and the Culture of Secrecy

Confidential funds have long operated under limited oversight in Philippine government agencies, from the Office of the President down to local barangay levels. This practice stems from historical needs for intelligence work but has expanded into areas far removed from security operations in places like Cebu and Pasay City.

The Commission on Audit continues to flag irregularities in these accounts, yet follow-through remains inconsistent across Congress. Lawmakers from both chambers have started questioning why such funds escape the same level of review applied to education or infrastructure budgets at the Department of Education.

Impact on Filipinos: Public Money, Public Trust

Filipino taxpayers in Quezon City and rural provinces fund these expenditures through their contributions to national coffers. When documentation falls short, families wonder whether resources meant for community programs instead disappear into untraceable channels.

Parents whose children attend public schools feel the effects when funds intended for confidential purposes overlap with education allocations. This overlap erodes confidence that public money reaches sari-sari stores or local paluwagan groups that support daily household needs.

Workers and small business owners across Davao and Manila bear the burden when accountability lapses allow irregular spending. The trial underscores how every peso diverted affects real households waiting for transparent use of their taxes.

Reactions and Responses

House prosecutors expressed frustration over missing documentation during post-session briefings in Pasay City. They stressed that signatures on vouchers carry legal weight and must align with actual outcomes under the 2015 joint circular.

Defense teams countered by focusing on the volume of documents already stipulated, arguing that the process should move forward without exhaustive review of every receipt. This back-and-forth reflects broader tensions in how impeachment proceedings handle financial evidence.

What to Watch For

Direct examination of Wamil resumes on Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the Senate impeachment court. Observers will note whether additional COA officials appear to clarify how the OVP responded to the notice of suspension.

Future sessions may bring expert testimony on signature analysis and the role of permanent disbursing officers. These developments could shape reforms on confidential fund limits across government agencies.

The outcome will test the Senate's ability to enforce the two-thirds vote threshold while maintaining public confidence in the 92-day calendar process.

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Reporting is based on sources cited in the article.