Manila: The Office of the Vice President (OVP) should not expect special treatment from state auditors in accounting for its confidential funds, House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said Wednesday. Adiong emphasized that the OVP, like other government offices, must comply with Commission on Audit (COA) requirements, including those concerning expenditures of confidential funds.
According to Philippines News Agency, Adiong made this statement following COA state auditor Xylene Mae Del Campo's testimony before the Senate impeachment court regarding the audit of the OVP's confidential funds. Adiong questioned the OVP's expectations, asking, "So I guess, kung titingnan natin, ano bang gusto ng OVP (if we look at it, what does the OVP want)? Special treatment na naman (again)?"
Adiong was responding to the defense's argument that COA's request for additional documents, including receipts, was not specifically required under the Joint Circular governing confidential and intelligence funds. He clarified that COA was merely applying its regular audit procedures to ensure compliance with government regulations concerning confidential fund payments.
He further argued against the notion that the OVP could avoid compliance by pointing out the absence of specific wording in the Joint Circular. "So hindi pupuwedeng sabihin ng OVP na: 'Hindi, wala naman nakasulat diyan specifically sa (So the OVP could not say that: 'No, it's not written specifically in the) Joint Circular, so why are you asking this from us?'" Adiong stated.
Adiong highlighted that the same audit requirements applicable to other agencies using confidential funds should also apply to the OVP, stating, "So kung usual standard yun na ginagawa ng ICFAO [Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Office] sa lahat ng ahensyang na na-require nila for the reward, dapat sumunod din ang OVP at hindi dapat mag-exempted (So if that's the usual standards being used by ICFAO over all agencies that they required for the reward, the OVP must follow and should not be exempted)."
He also dismissed the argument that requiring receipts for purchases would compromise the identities of confidential informants. Adiong pointed out that COA's request for supporting documents allows agencies to substantiate questioned transactions before audit findings necessitate further action.
The prosecution spokesperson underlined the importance of supporting documents, especially when confidential funds are used as rewards. Del Campo had previously testified that audit standards require payments to be supported by evidence demonstrating that the intelligence or surveillance activity was successfully executed.
Adiong concluded that the absence of a specific provision in the Joint Circular does not exempt the OVP from adhering to established COA audit procedures. The issue arose during the prosecution's presentation of COA findings on the use of confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
