APRIL 15, 2026 — The Commission on Audit (COA) has ordered that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under Sara Duterte must return ₱73.28 million in confidential funds spent in December 2022, after COA affirmed its disallowance and denied Duterte’s appeal. This ruling, revealed during a House Justice Committee hearing on April 14, now ties directly into the impeachment complaints against the Vice President.

The numbers are staggering. Out of ₱125 million in confidential funds disbursed in just 11 days in December 2022, COA flagged ₱73.28 million as unjustified. The breakdown included ₱69.787 million for “rewards” and ₱3.5 million for office items like tables and computers — expenses that auditors said failed to meet the criteria for intelligence or confidential activities.

COA Auditor Gloria Camora was blunt during the hearing, saying, “The Commission Proper has decided already on the appeal. They affirmed our disallowance.”

When asked by Rep. Chel Diokno if this meant the officials must return the money, Camora replied, “Tama po (Correct).” 

The ruling, dated April 10, 2026, was signed by COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba and Commissioners Mario Lipana and Douglas Mallillin.

The disallowance directly implicates Vice President Sara Duterte, Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, and Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey as accountable officers. The timing couldn’t be more explosive: the House Justice Committee is simultaneously tackling two impeachment complaints against Duterte.

The Justice panel chair, Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, ordered COA to submit all related documents within three days, signaling that this ruling will be central to the impeachment proceedings.

For the masses, the issue cuts deep. Confidential funds are taxpayer money — our money. When ₱73 million is spent without clear justification, it raises the question: Who really benefits from these funds?

The controversy also highlights the blurred lines between governance and political survival. Confidential funds, by nature, are shielded from scrutiny. But when COA itself says “pakibalik ang pera,” the veil of secrecy collapses.

The OVP’s confidential fund saga is not isolated. COA has also issued notices of disallowance for the first, second, and third quarters of 2023, suggesting that this problem extends beyond December 2022.

Should confidential funds even exist in civilian offices like the OVP? Or should they be strictly limited to security agencies where intelligence work is clear and measurable?

And if ₱73 million in taxpayer money can vanish into “confidential” spending without justification, how much more are we willing to let slide before demanding real accountability?

(Image: Inday Sara Duterte | Facebook)