Paggastos ng OVP sa bahagi ng 2023 confi at intel funds, pinupuna ng COA | 24 Oras

Summary

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability discussed the 2023 confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in the Philippines. The Commission on Audit (COA) raised concerns over the OVP's spending, particularly on food, medical items, and travel expenses, which may not comply with the 2015 joint circular. The COA issued an audit observation memorandum (AOM), requesting the OVP to provide satisfactory documentation. Vice President Sara Duterte assured there was no misuse of funds and promised to address any audit findings and legitimate cases.

Takeaways

• 🔒 The Office of the Vice President (OVP) in the Philippines is under scrutiny for the use of confidential and intelligence funds in 2022 and 2023.
• 💼 The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the OVP's spending, citing three audit observations and requesting further documentation to justify the expenditures.
• 📑 The COA has expressed dissatisfaction with the documents submitted by the OVP regarding the use of funds, particularly for food, medical items, and travel expenses, which may not align with the allowed expenses under the joint circular.
• 🚫 The COA has specifically questioned the use of confidential funds for 'pabuya' or intelligence gathering, as it seems to require additional supporting documents under a 2015 circular.
• 💡 The discussion in the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
• 💸 A significant amount, 375 million pesos, was allocated to the confidential fund of the OVP from the first to third quarter of 2023, out of which 4 million pesos were questioned by the COA.
• 🗣️ Vice President Sara Duterte has assured that there will be no repeat of the issues raised and has committed to responding to audit findings and addressing any legitimate cases.
• 📢 The Vice President's office has emphasized that there is no misuse of funds and has pledged to cooperate with the COA and other relevant bodies to clarify the matters raised.
• 🔄 The script suggests a pattern of repeated issues with the OVP's fund usage, indicating a need for ongoing monitoring and potential reforms to ensure proper financial management.
• 📰 The news report by GMA Integrated News highlights the ongoing public and governmental concern over the transparency and accountability of the OVP's financial dealings.

Q & A

What is the issue concerning the 2022 confidential and Intel funds?

The issue is that the Office of the Vice President's use of the 2022 confidential and Intel funds has not been fully explained, particularly how they were spent.

What was discussed in the House committee on good government and public accountability?

The discussion revolved around the 2023 confidential funds of the Vice President's office, with a focus on how the funds were utilized, especially for food, medical items, and travel expenses.

What is the Commission on Audit's stance on the Office of the Vice President's spending?

The Commission on Audit has issued three audit observation memoranda (AOMs), indicating that the spending of the OVP on food, medical items, and travel does not seem to comply with the allowed expenses as per the joint circular.

What is the significance of the 2015 circular mentioned in the script?

The 2015 circular is significant because it sets the guidelines for the documentation required to justify the use of funds for information gathering, which the OVP has been asked to provide.

What has been the Vice President's office's response to the audit findings?

The Vice President's office has not been satisfied with the documents submitted so far and has been asked to submit additional documents that would satisfy the requirements of the joint circular.

What is the amount of the confidential fund allocation mentioned in the script?

The confidential fund allocation mentioned is 375 million pesos for the first to third quarter of 2023.

What is the concern regarding the 375 million peso allocation for the OVP?

The concern is that the allocation might be subject to the same issues as the 2022 confidential and Intel funds, where there were audit findings and a need for further explanation.

What did President Duterte say at the beginning of the hearing?

President Duterte stated that there would be no repeat of the misuse of funds and that they would respond to any audit findings or legitimate cases filed before the appropriate courts.

What is the role of the GMA Integrated News in this context?

GMA Integrated News is providing coverage of the hearing and the discussions surrounding the OVP's use of confidential funds.

Who are Marisol and Abdur Rahman in the context of the script?

Marisol and Abdur Rahman are reporters from GMA Integrated News who are covering the story and providing updates on the hearing.