COA TESTIMONY RAISES NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT ACTIVITIES LISTED IN CONFIDENTIAL-FUND REPORTS
Commission on Audit auditor Xylene Mae Del Campo testified that reports submitted by the Office of the Vice President included activities such as tree planting, Christmas events, gift-giving, wheelchair distribution, and an appreciation night in explaining the use of confidential funds for rewards.
According to her testimony, the reports did not meet the requirements of Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which governs the release, use, reporting, and auditing of confidential and intelligence funds.
The issue is not whether tree planting, gift-giving, or wheelchair distribution can help people. They can. The question is why they appeared in reports supporting the use of money reserved for confidential operations.
Ordinary government programs are normally charged to regular public funds, where expenses and recipients can be documented in the usual way. Confidential funds are treated differently because some details may need to remain secret. That secrecy is why the rules governing them are supposed to be stricter.
The testimony is part of the prosecution’s evidence. It is not yet a final finding by the impeachment court. The defense may challenge the auditor’s interpretation, present other documents, or argue that the activities were connected to legitimate confidential operations.
For taxpayers, the basic question is simple: Was public money charged to the correct fund, used for an authorized purpose, and supported by records strong enough to survive an audit?
WHAT TO WATCH
Watch how the defense explains the connection between the listed community activities and confidential operations. Also watch whether the prosecution can establish which expenses were paid from confidential funds, how much was involved, and who authorized them.
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