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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte should explain confidential funds, Palace says

Duterte should explain confidential funds, Palace says

Published Apr 21, 2026 04:41 pm
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte
PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro and Vice President Sara Duterte
While Malacañang distanced itself from the recent rulings on the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) confidential funds, it stressed that its leadership must properly explain them.
Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said that if Vice President Sara Duterte fails to explain it, "the accountability will fall on her."
Castro was referring to the Commission on Audit's (COA) order to the OVP to return P375 million in confidential funds for 2023.
"Sa ngayon, may pangalawa, may notice of disallowance na nagkakahalaga ng 375 million din patungkol sa confidential funds. So, kung hindi maipapaliwanag ito ng head of agency, iyan nga po ay sa pamumuno ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte, sa kaniya po ito babagsak dahil siya po ang namumuno dito (At present, there is a second matter: a notice of disallowance amounting to P375 million, also related to confidential funds. If this cannot be explained by the head of the agency, under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte, then the accountability will fall on her, since she is in charge)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, April 21.
"Kaya mas maganda po na maipaliwanag ito. Well, anyway, nagdesisyon po ang COA, tingnan na lamang po natin kung magkakaroon pa ng ano pang final decision dito (That is why it would be better if this is properly explained. In any case, the COA has made its decision; we will just have to see what further or final decision will come out of this)," Castro added.
The Palace mouthpiece also said the Malacañang should no longer involve itself in the COA ruling.
"Wala po sa Palasyo kung sila ay maniniwala o hindi dahil ito po ay ruling mismo ng COA. Sila po mismo ang nagsasabi at nag-decide kung mayroong diumano’y pondong hindi tama ang paggamit (It is not up to the Palace whether they will believe it or not, because this is a ruling by the Commission on Audit itself. They are the ones who determine and decide whether there were allegedly funds that were improperly used)," Castro said.
"So sila ay nagdesisyon na, iyong isa po ay na-dismiss ang appeal na sinampa ni Bise Presidente regarding the P73 million na confidential funds at ipinababalik ito (They have already made a decision, one appeal filed by Vice President Sara Duterte regarding the P73 million in confidential funds has been dismissed, and the amount has been ordered returned)," Castro added.
The COA is the constitutional body tasked with examining, auditing, and settling all accounts related to government expenditures. Its decisions often serve as the basis for legislative inquiries and potential administrative or legal actions.
Citing multiple violations of the joint circular governing such expenditures, COA ordered the OVP under Duterte to return P375 million in confidential funds for 2023 on April 20. This latest development adds to the P73 million in confidential expenses previously disallowed by state auditors for the fiscal year 2022.
READ MORE: OVP says no COA decision received, declines comment on audit issue raised in House hearing

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OVP Vice President Sara Duterte confidential funds Claire Castro
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