OVP says COA findings were 'administrative,' not wrongdoing
Vice President Sara Duterte (MB File Photo)
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) maintained that the issues raised by the Commission on Audit (COA) regarding supposed deficiencies found in the office’s fiscal management were “primarily administrative in nature” and that there was no wastage of government funds.
In a statement on Thursday, Dec. 4, the OVP clarified the issue as reports circulated about “deficiencies in documentation” found in the OVP’s books.
“The significant audit observations and corresponding recommendations were discussed with OVP Management Officials during an exit conference held on May 15, 2025,” the statement read.
“The OVP highlights that there were no findings of loss or wastage of government funds or property in the audit, and all issues raised were primarily administrative in nature and management agreed to implement all corresponding recommendations to address the observations for CY 2024,” it added.
The state auditors on Dec. 1 published the Executive Summary and full report of the OVP’s Annual Audit Report (AAR) for 2024.
The audit aims to “ascertain the level of assurance on the financial statements, determine the propriety of transactions and compliance with applicable laws, and recommend improvement opportunities for the agency.”
Stressing that there was “no finding of wrongdoing,” the OVP stated that the state auditors rendered the office an unmodified opinion on the fairness of presentation of its financial statements.
An unmodified opinion is the highest level of assurance, meaning the financial statements are presented fairly in all material respects, it added.
Earlier, COA flagged the OVP for “deficiencies in documentation” on the distributed welfare goods worth P110.1 million in 2024.
It ordered the OVP to revisit the Policy Manual on Disaster Operations Program and submit the verified and certified Master List of Beneficiaries and other important documents to the Accounting Division.
The state auditors also instructed the OVP to submit the documentary requirements for the distribution of relief items.