A “highly compartmentalized” government office cannot use internal divisions to wall off information about public money because transparency and accountability remain basic requirements for civilian agencies.
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House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon made the point following the 21st day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial Wednesday.
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“Yung mga ahensya ng pamahalaan, first principle po iyong transparency at saka accountability, hindi po ba? Ibig kong sabihin parang hindi ata obra, particularly in a civilian agencies na meron konsepto ng compartmentalization,” Ridon said during a press conference after the trial.
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Former Department of Education USec Michael Wesley Poa testified that the Office of the Vice President had a highly compartmentalized structure and maintained that confidential-fund operations were outside his responsibilities despite the senior positions he held under Duterte.
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Ridon said specialization inside government does not justify a setup in which senior officials are unable to explain programs, activities and projects involving public resources.
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“Kasi kung wala naman mga itinatago dapat above board lahat yung PAPs – programs, activities, and projects noon mga opisina. So, tingin ko dapat walang puwang para sa mga opisina ng gobyerno na meron actual compartmentalization of work at the highest or the middle levels,” Ridon said.
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Poa’s testimony has drawn particular scrutiny because he served as Duterte’s chief of staff, spokesperson and undersecretary at DepEd but testified that he lacked personal knowledge of how its confidential funds were actually implemented.
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“Una, ‘yun pong description po ng structure ng OVP. Ang sabi, the Office of the Vice President is highly compartmentalized,” Ridon said.
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Joint Circular No. 2015-01 requires the head of agency to oversee the agency-wide use and disposition of confidential funds, maintain internal controls and ensure compliance with government accounting and auditing requirements.
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The prosecution is arguing that dividing duties among officials cannot erase the responsibility to know how public funds under an agency’s control were authorized, spent and accounted for.
