The Commission on Audit (COA) has upheld its Notice of Disallowance regarding the use of P73.287 million in confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the period of December 22 to 31, 2022. This decision was finalized and became executory on April 10, 2026, following an earlier notice issued on August 8, 2024.
In a 15-page resolution, COA criticized the OVP for submitting only acknowledgment receipts as documentation for the confidential expenses, failing to adhere to established guidelines set forth by COA, Joint Circular on Confidential Funds, and national budget provisions.
The commission emphasized that the documents provided were insufficient to validate the proper use of these funds and did not meet the necessary level of evidence required for spending confidential funds.
COA highlighted the importance of thorough scrutiny and adequate documentation for the disbursement of public funds to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of taxpayer money.