COA memos found no misuse of OVP confidential funds Ortonio

The Commission on Audit or COA's audit observation memorandums on the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President or OVP contained no finding of misuse. This was stated by OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Ortonio also said he could not recall any finding of misuse in the notice of suspension covering the OVP's fourth-quarter 2022 confidential funds. He added that it contained only requests for clarification. He said the audit observation memorandum and notice of suspension were not final findings by COA. This is because the OVP was given an opportunity to submit comments, according to Ortonio. The testimony came as the defense panel sought to establish the nature of COA's findings on the confidential funds. Senator Erwin Tulfo earlier questioned Ortonio over the agency's use of confidential funds. He cited the purchase of medicines and other goods that the COA questioned as being improperly classified as intelligence rewards. Ortonio acknowledged COA's observation. But he said the OVP had submitted its comments and explanations in response. Senator-judge Sherwin Gatchalian, for his part, questioned Ortonio on why he did not appear to have conducted a closer scrutiny on the distribution of the confidential funds. Ortonio said he trusted the information provided by security officer Raymund Dante Lachica in connection with the implementation of the confidential activities.