Receipts Alone Insufficient to Justify VP's P612.5M Confidential Funds, Says Ex-Lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — Acknowledgement receipts bearing names and amounts cannot by themselves prove that P612.5 million in confidential funds of Vice President Sara Duterte was spent for lawful intelligence activities, former Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said on Tuesday. Barbers, who serves as House trial spokesperson and impeachment adviser for the Vice President, pointed out that the Commission on Audit (COA) found irregularities in the utilization of these funds. He emphasized that the receipts alone are insufficient to substantiate the validity and purpose of the expenditures. In the Philippines, the Vice President and the President are authorized to disburse confidential funds. However, strict accountability is required for their use. Particularly when substantial public funds are used for highly sensitive purposes, robust mechanisms for transparency and accountability are essential to maintain public trust. Barbers' statement has once again highlighted concerns regarding the transparency in the utilization of confidential funds. The use of confidential funds in Philippine politics frequently becomes a subject of debate. In the past, issues concerning the transparency and accountability of confidential funds used by high-ranking government officials have been raised, garnering significant public attention. This current issue may influence future discussions on the management and disbursement of confidential funds.