The House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday approved a motion to issue a subpoena requiring the Commission on Audit (COA) to submit to Congress a report on the use of the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during fiscal year 2022 to 2023.
“By virtue of the oversight power of the Committee on Appropriations, the motion to issue the subpoena duces tecum requiring COA to submit the audit report of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education on the use of the confidential funds for fiscal year 2022-2023, hearing no objections, the motion is carried, ” said Marikina Rep Stella Luz Quimbo, the panel’s senior vice-chairperson, during the deliberations on the proposed COA 2025 budget.
The committee approved the motion raised by the Makabayan Bloc headed by House Deputy Minority leader and ACT-CIS Rep. France Castro, after hearing no objections from the committee members.
“Earlier, there were multiple motions relating to confidential funds. There was a motion by Rep. France Castro to issue a subpoena duces tecum requiring COA to submit the audit report of the OVP and the use of the confidential funds for 2022 and 2023, which was reiterated by [Gabriela Party-list] Hon. [Arlene] Brosas,” said Quimbo.
“[Kabataan Party-list] Hon. [Raoul] Manuel supported the same and at the same time, also introduced the motion to issue a subpoena duces tecum requiring an audit report, this time for the DepEd, for 2023,” she continued.
Prior to the motion’s approval, Castro told the panel she has been requesting copies of the report on confidential funds since 2022, saying her request was “long overdue.”
In response, COA chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba explained that the nature of the funding prevented the agency from divulging the report to the committee.
“Because of the nature of the funds, which is confidential, we cannot divulge it. But if there is a subpoena, we can study the subpoena and we can submit,” said Cordoba.
Based on a COA Circular dated September 2013, the commission can be compelled to submit documents, records, reports, decisions, and other information upon the issuance of a subpoena duces tecum.
“When they use the confidential funds, after each quarter they submit their accomplishment to the Office of the Speaker, Office of the Senate President, and Office of the President,” Cordoba added.
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