THE Office of the Vice President (OVP) under Vice President Sara Z. Duterte was the first government agency in nearly 10 years to submit only acknowledgment receipts (ARs) to liquidate confidential funds, a Commission on Audit (COA) witness testified Wednesday.
State auditor Roderick Wamil made the statement during questioning by Senator-Judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan in the Senate impeachment court, which is hearing evidence on the first article of impeachment alleging the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds released to the OVP and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure.
Wamil, who served from September 2014 to February 2024 with the COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office, said he had audited the confidential funds of more than 30 national government agencies, as well as numerous local government units.
Pangilinan asked whether it was standard practice for agencies to submit only ARs instead of official receipts or sales invoices.
“Hindi ko po siya masasabing standard practice since ito po ‘yung kauna-unahang beses na puro AR po ’yung sinubmit sa amin,” Wamil said.
Pangilinan confirmed that the testimony referred to the OVP’s liquidation of P125 million in confidential funds covering Dec. 21 to 31, 2022.
“So first time sa iyong 10 years na puro AR lang at walang sales invoice at walang official receipt?” Pangilinan asked.
“Opo,” Wamil replied. “At ganun po kadaming AR kaagad ’yung sinubmit.”
Earlier, Wamil testified that the OVP submitted 849 ARs but no official receipts or sales invoices to support the liquidation of the P125 million in confidential funds.
He said the requirements under Joint Circular No. 2015-01 are uniformly enforced across all agencies receiving confidential funds.
Pangilinan also questioned Wamil about the OVP’s medicine purchases charged against confidential funds.
He asked whether COA could determine from the liquidation documents that the reported P122 million worth of medicines had actually been purchased.
“Hindi po, Your Honor,” Wamil replied.
Wamil said auditors could have verified the purchases had the OVP submitted official receipts or sales invoices.
But because the liquidation was supported only by ARs, he said COA could not determine whether the reported expenditures were actually for medicines.
metrosundaily
