MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) failed to identify the specific activities funded by P125 million in confidential funds which was spent in 11 days in 2022, Commission on Audit auditor Roderick Wamil testified on Monday.
Wamil told the Senate impeachment court that the OVP’s Physical and Financial Plan and accomplishment report failed to enumerate the confidential activities funded by the cash advance. Liquidation records showed the amount intended for the entire fourth quarter of 2022 was disbursed from Dec. 21 to 31.
“Based on this document, it was only disbursed from December 21 to 31, 2022, or around 11 days," he said.
He said that Joint Circular No. 2015-01 limits confidential fund expenditures to specified purposes, including intelligence gathering, operational supplies, safe houses, vehicle rentals and qualified rewards to non-employee informers.
“It was noted that the Office of the Vice President did not itemize the specific confidential activities they undertook,” Wamil said in Filipino, adding that itemizing those activities was necessary to determine whether the reported expenses were among those allowed under the joint circular.
He likewise attested that the OVP failed to submit documentary evidence of payments required under Item 4.12 of the joint circular.
Wamil further pointed to a discrepancy in the disbursement voucher, which described the cash advance as covering calendar year 2022, although the Physical and Financial Plan identified only the fourth quarter as the implementation period. He said this did not comply with Item 6.1.5, which requires the implementation period to be clearly stated.
He clarified that the deficiencies did not by themselves prove that no confidential activities took place, but said the records submitted to COA's Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office did not provide the information and supporting evidence needed to verify whether the ₱125 million was spent for allowable confidential expenses.
