IMPEACHMENT endorser and Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union on Thursday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to return the P73.287 million in confidential expenses disallowed by the Commission on Audit (COA), saying the move would demonstrate accountability expected of a public servant.
Ortega said the issue has gone beyond paperwork and appeals and now calls for a clear act of responsibility.
“Kung talagang nais ni VP Sara na ipakita ang kanyang accountability bilang public servant, mas mabuting isauli na lang ang pondong ipinapabalik ng COA. Dapat siyang managot sa pera ng bayan na ipinagkatiwala sa kanya at kilalanin kung saan nagkulang sa proseso,” Ortega said in a statement.
The House leader was referring to COA’s affirmation of Notice of Disallowance No. 2024-002-100 covering confidential expenses of the Office of the Vice President from Dec. 21 to 31, 2022.
During the April 14 hearing of the House Committee on Justice, COA officials testified that the appeal filed by Duterte and other OVP officials had been denied. The audit body also said that once the ruling becomes final, the disallowed amount must be returned to the government.
The amount covers P69.787 million in rewards and P3.5 million in equipment expenses, including tables, chairs, computers, and printers.
Ortega stressed that the amount involved is too large—and the economic climate too difficult—for the issue to be brushed aside.
“Hindi ito barya. Napakalaking halaga nito, at sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, inaasahan ng taumbayan na bawat sentimo ng pondo ng gobyerno ay maayos na naipapaliwanag,” he said.
He noted that the disallowance stemmed from COA’s finding of noncompliance with Joint Circular 2015-01, which governs the use of confidential and intelligence funds.
“Kapag may disallowance na at in-affirm pa ng COA, malinaw na may kakulangan na hindi naipaliwanag sa ilalim ng umiiral na mga tuntunin. Isa itong pormal na finding ng constitutional body na nagbabantay sa kaban ng bayan,” Ortega said.
He added that confidential funds carry a heavier burden of justification given their sensitive nature.
“Mas mataas ang standard sa confidential funds dahil mas mataas ang tiwala ng bayan sa humahawak nito. Kaya mas makabubuti na sumunod sa utos ng COA at ituwid kung ano ang dapat ituwid,” he stressed.
Ortega also pointed out that the issue does not stand alone, noting that COA has likewise issued notices of disallowance covering the first, second, and third quarters of the OVP’s 2023 confidential funds amounting to about P375 million.
“COA has already flagged a pattern. Kung paulit-ulit ang disallowance, may sinasabi ito sa paraan ng paghawak sa pondo ng bayan. Kaya nararapat lamang na isauli ang pinapasoli,” he said.
“Simple lang ang hinihingi ng taumbayan: respeto sa proseso, respeto sa COA, at respeto sa pera ng bayan,” Ortega added.
