OVP ordered to return P73 million in undocumented confidential funds

The Commission on Audit (COA) on Monday affirmed its disallowance of P73.287 million in confidential funds that the Office of the Vice President expended over an 11-day period in December 2022, according to official pronouncements from the state audit body.

Vice President Sara Duterte and two other OVP officials have been directed to return the disputed amount, which was spent without adequate supporting documentation or proper authorization protocols. The funds in question were drawn from the office's confidential expenditure account, a discretionary budget category typically used for sensitive operational expenses.

The COA's affirmation of the disallowance represents the final determination in the audit dispute, barring further appeals. State auditors found that the accelerated spending pattern and lack of documentation violated standard government accounting procedures and audit requirements for the proper management of public funds.

The case has drawn significant scrutiny as it involves the country's second-highest constitutional officer and reflects ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in the handling of confidential government expenditures. The OVP has previously stated that the funds were utilized for legitimate operational purposes, though specific details remain confidential under existing policies governing sensitive government spending.