By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) failed to submit documents showing that the government benefited from confidential fund operations for which rewards were paid, a Commission on Audit (COA) auditor said Wednesday.
Former COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (ICFAO) state auditor Roderick Wamil told the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday that the OVP did not provide the required “evidence of success” for reward payments covered by its confidential fund liquidation.
“Diyan po kasi malalaman kung valid po ba iyong naging payment nila ng rewards,” Wamil said during questioning by Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros.
Asked whether such documents would prove that the government gained something from the operations, Wamil replied: “Yes po, Your Honor. Kaya po namin nire-require na i-submit po iyon.”
Wamil said the supporting documents submitted by the OVP for the fourth quarter of 2022 consisted only of acknowledgment receipts, without official receipts or sales invoices for purchases.
He described the submission as incomplete, saying COA needed official receipts or sales invoices to determine whether the items listed in the liquidation documents had actually been purchased.
During questioning by Senator-judge Francis Pangilinan, Wamil said auditors could not confirm from the documents alone whether the reported P122 million worth of medicines had truly been bought.
“Hindi po, Your Honor,” he said when asked whether the liquidation report was sufficient to establish that the medicines were purchased.
Wamil said the P125-million confidential fund liquidation covering Dec. 21 to 31, 2022 was supported by 849 acknowledgment receipts but not a single official receipt or sales invoice.
He added that it was the first time in nearly a decade of auditing confidential funds of more than 30 government agencies that he encountered a submission composed entirely of acknowledgement receipts.
Wamil also testified that the Department of Education (DepEd), based on documents he initially evaluated, did not submit evidence showing the success of its surveillance or information-gathering activities.
He clarified that confidential funds, despite their sensitive nature, remain public funds and are therefore subject to COA scrutiny and documentation requirements.
Receipts for OVP purchases pose no security risk
Wamil also said that requiring receipts for medicines, food, and other ordinary purchases charged against confidential funds would not compromise national security.
Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo asked whether submitting receipts for items such as medicines, shampoo, vinegar and snacks bought from stores could jeopardize national security.
“Hindi po,” Wamil replied.
Wamil explained that for purchases, auditors require proof of purchase in the form of official receipts or sales invoices, rather than information that could expose the identity of confidential informants.
He said acknowledgment receipts may be accepted for payments to individuals who provided information, while purchases from suppliers require official receipts or sales invoices.
“Kapag purchase of information, ina-allow po namin iyong acknowledgment receipts,” he said during questioning by Senator-judge Joel Villanueva.
He also clarified that the audit of confidential funds is document-based and that COA evaluates the records submitted by an agency against the requirements of the joint circular.
The impeachment court is hearing the prosecution’s evidence under Article I of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
