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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider OVP reacts to important notice from COA amid P125-M confidential funds controversy

OVP reacts to important notice from COA amid P125-M confidential funds controversy

Published Sep 28, 2023 04:49 am

At A Glance

  • Davao de Oro 1st district Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora says the Office of the Vice President (OVP) welcomes the audit observation memo (AOM) from the Commission on Audit (COA). 

VPSD.jpgVice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Davao de Oro 1st district Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora says the Office of the Vice President (OVP) welcomes the audit observation memo (AOM) from the Commission on Audit (COA). 

During the House plenary debate on the OVP's 2024 budget, Zamora, the budget sponsor, said, "The OVP takes notice of and also welcomes the audit observation memo as brought up during the discussions." 

"The OVP welcomes also the compliance mechanism that are part of the AOM as it has always been adhered to collaborating and communication between branches of government in the OVP's aspiration for a prosperous and accountable society for all Filipinos," she added. 

Present in plenary during the budget discussion Wednesday, Sept. 27 was Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte is the concurrent Department of Education (DepEd) secretary. 

Zamora noted that as of Wednesday, the OVP was yet to receive a copy of the AOM. 

The OVP is being hounded by criticisms over the usage of P125 million worth of confidential funds in December 2023. 

Zamora said that as per OVP, the P125 million was spent in a period of 19 days, and not 11 days. 

Last Monday, COA budget sponsor Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo told the plenary that it only took 11 days for the OVP to use up the special lump sum funds. 

Quimbo was the one who bared that COA had issued an AOM to the OVP last Sept. 18. 

"May confidential nature po ang AOM bagamat ang masasabi po natin, ang AOM na yan ay nagcoconvey po ng request for additional documents muna sa OVP. Para makapagpaliwanag sila ng ilan sa mga expenses po," she said.  

(Although the AOM has a confidential nature, I can say that particular AOM is used to convey a request for additional documents from the OVP. This will help explain some of their expenses.)  

Quimbo said COA has committed to finish its audit of the P125 million by Nov. 15 this year. Special rules govern the audit of confidential funds. 

Related Tags

Confidential funds Commission on Audit Sara Duterte
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