By Ruth Abbey-Gita Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Accountability for the use of confidential funds lies with Vice President Sara Duterte, Malacañang said on Tuesday after a new Commission on Audit’s (COA) issuance of notice of disallowance for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Speaking to reporters, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said COA rulings serve as the official basis for determining whether government funds were properly utilized, emphasizing that the agency head is ultimately responsible for explaining expenditures.
Usec. Castro made the statement after COA issued a notice of disallowance involving P375 million in confidential funds in 2023.
She noted that in 2022, COA had previously dismissed an appeal involving the OVP’s P73 million in confidential funds and ordered its return.
Usec. Castro told the media, “Kung hindi maipapaliwanag ito ng head of agency—iyan po ay sa pamumuno ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte—sa kaniya po ito babagsak dahil siya po ang namumuno dito.
Kaya mas maganda po na maipaliwanag ito. But anyway, nagdesisyon po ang COA. Tingnan lamang po natin kung magkakaroon pa ng final decision dito.”
She said further legal steps may still follow as COA has yet to make a final decision.
Castro: PBBM admin hands off in impeachment process
Meanwhile, the Malacañang official clarified that the administration is not driving the impeachment proceedings against Duterte, saying this is solely within the mandate of Congress.
Castro clarified, “Hindi po ang Palasyo, hindi po ang Pangulo ang tumututok sa impeachment proceedings laban dito kay Bise Presidente. Ito po ay trabaho ng Kongreso.”
She likewise noted that focusing on one issue does not mean neglecting others, stressing that multiple investigations into flood control anomalies can proceed simultaneously.
“Kasi ang ibig sabihin niyan kapag ganyan palagi, pwede ba ang lahat ng kaso sa korte ay huwag nang dinggin at tumutok na lang sa flood control projects? Hindi po yata ganoon dapat.” (PNA)
