OVP's 111 disbursements in one day? Unusual, says COA auditor

MANILA, Philippines— The Office of the Vice President (OVP) made 111 disbursements totaling P17 million in confidential funds in a single day, December 23, 2022, it was revealed during an impeachment hearing on Wednesday. Senator-judge Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan presented the information, citing a report from a Commission on Audit (COA) auditor. He noted the unusual volume and concentration of these expenditures within a 24-hour period. The COA auditor described the situation as "unusual," implying that such a high number of disbursements and the total amount disbursed on one specific day is not typical for the use of confidential funds. Confidential funds, by their nature, are often difficult to audit and scrutinize for specific details of their use. The revelation of these 111 disbursements on one day raises questions about the OVP's disbursement practices and the management of these sensitive funds. This issue highlights ongoing concerns in the Philippines regarding the transparency and accountability of government agencies, particularly concerning the use of confidential and intelligence funds. Information Source: Inquirer NewsInfo