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VP's Secret Funds: Undated, Late Receipts Raise Audit Questions
Audit findings reveal that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) issued undated and late acknowledgment receipts totaling nearly P29 million for its P125 million confidential fund disbursements. A witness testified during an impeachment trial, casting doubt on the transparency of the fund's management.
Undated and late acknowledgment receipts (ARs) worth almost P29 million were issued by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to prove its disbursements of the P125 million in confidential funds, according to a prosecution witness. At the continuation of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, state auditor Roderick Wamil testified that some of the ARs issued by the OVP were either undated or issued late, despite being used to account for the confidential fund expenditures. This testimony further fuels concerns regarding the management and transparency of the OVP's confidential funds. In the Philippines, the use of confidential funds by government agencies is often subject to intense scrutiny. The management of funds by a figure in such a high-profile position as the Vice President naturally draws significant public attention. This issue highlights the ongoing challenges in Philippine governance concerning the proper management and transparency of public funds. The proceedings of the impeachment trial, along with the future management of confidential funds, are now under close watch. Information Source: Inquirer NewsInfo
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Inquirer NewsInfo