A Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor testified before the impeachment court that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte is liable for irregularities in the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) December 2022 confidential funds.
Xylene Mae del Campo, supervising auditor of the COA-ICFAO, said that the agency issued a notice of disallowance covering P73.287 million after the OVP failed to provide sufficient proof of success for its information-gathering and surveillance activities, as required by Joint Circular 2015-01.
“Based po sa document na ‘to, hindi po napakita dito na yung proof of success of the information gathering. At may mga activities din dito na from December 13, 15, 17, 18 na hindi sakop doon sa period of utilization nung cash advance which is for December 21, 31, 2022,” Del Campo said.
The disallowed expenditures included unverified reward payments for events like Christmas activities and appreciation nights, as well as ₱69.78 million used for office equipment lacking official receipts or clear links to confidential operations.
Del Campo identified Duterte as primarily liable in her capacity as head of agency, alongside OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey. Although the COA Proper affirmed the disallowance in April 2026 and demanded the return of the funds, the OVP’s motion for reconsideration remains pending.
