OVP Disputes COA on P125-M Confidential Fund Use in 11 Days Amid Impeachment Trial

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has refused to admit that it utilized P125 million worth of confidential funds within an 11-day period in December 2022, as indicated by state-run Commission on Audit (COA) records. This stance was made clear during the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. During Day 11 of the trial, defense lawyer Michael Poa explicitly stated "No stipulation" when the prosecution counsel, Lorna Kapunan, put forward the assertion that the OVP received the P125 million in confidential funds on December 20, 2022, and disbursed it within 11 days. One of the impeachable allegations against the Vice President is the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP and the Department of Education during her previous tenure as Education chief. Poa did, however, agree with Kapunan that the OVP was allotted P125 million in confidential funds for 2022, adding the stipulation that such an amount was approved by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. Kapunan consented to this point, confirming the fund's release to the OVP with presidential approval. The OVP's alleged rapid use of P125 million in confidential funds first came to light in September 2023 during budget deliberations on the COA's proposed P13 billion budget for 2024. Then House Committee on Appropriations senior vice chairperson and Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo disclosed the 11-day usage when asked by House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas if the Makabayan bloc's computation that the OVP spent the fund in 19 days was accurate. Quimbo corrected the period to "11 days" and noted that the OVP's liquidation report was submitted to COA in January 2023. Subsequently, COA issued a Notice of Disallowance on P73 million of the P125 million confidential funds disbursed by the OVP. This action was based on violations of the 2015 Joint Circular, which restricts the use of confidential funds to specific purposes. The Senate impeachment court is currently conducting a trial hearing on Article I of the Articles of Impeachment, which accuses Duterte of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds. This development highlights ongoing scrutiny over the disbursement and utilization of confidential funds by Philippine government offices, particularly those headed by high-ranking officials. The OVP's refusal to stipulate the COA's timeline suggests a significant legal battle ahead regarding the interpretation and application of regulations governing these sensitive funds.