Several lawmakers are seeking transparency regarding the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2022 and 2023.
During a budget briefing for the Commission on Audit (COA), ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro requested the Committee on Appropriations to issue a subpoena duces tecum. This would require COA to submit any Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) issued regarding the use of confidential funds by the OVP in 2022 and 2023, and by the DepEd in 2023, when Vice President Sara Duterte also served as Education Secretary.
According to COA, an AOM is “a written notification to the agency head and concerned officers informing them of deficiencies noted during the audit of accounts, operations, or transactions, and requiring their response.”
Castro emphasized her desire to review COA’s audit observations on these funds and to determine if any notices of disallowance were issued, referencing a 2013 COA circular that allows the agency to be compelled to submit reports following the issuance of subpoenas.
Representatives Joel Chua of Manila, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, and Raoul Manuel of the Kabataan party-list expressed their support for Castro’s motion.
Nueva Ecija Representative Joseph Violago suggested that Castro’s motion could be considered “at the proper time,” noting that the current session was focused on COA’s budget briefing.
Committee on Appropriations Vice Chair and Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo agreed, stating that Castro’s motion could be addressed after all briefings are concluded.
“We’ve been requesting this since 2022, and it’s already overdue,” Castro remarked.
COA Chair Gamaliel Cordoba responded that the agency would await the committee’s decision on Castro’s subpoena request. He added that both the OVP and DepEd had submitted their audit reports, and COA had completed its audit actions and findings, but the sensitive nature of the funds prevents public disclosure.
Cordoba also mentioned that the OVP submitted its accomplishment report on the use of the funds to the Office of the President, the House Speaker, and the Senate President, and that copies of the report could be provided to committee members.
“Our position is to wait for the subpoena and then evaluate the matter accordingly,” Cordoba stated.
In response, Castro suggested that the appropriate body to address her motion be established as soon as possible to facilitate the issuance of the subpoena.
Representative Brosas urged the committee to act on Castro’s motion and consider deferring COA’s budget, highlighting the House’s oversight function and the need for transparency regarding the P125 million in confidential funds.
“I stand by my position. The COA budget should be deferred if we cannot see how the P125 million in confidential funds was used,” Brosas asserted.