Jamaine Punzalan

Members of the prosecution and defense panels confer as they stipulate on documents and acknowledgment receipts to be used as evidence for Article 1 of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte during the 11th day of her impeachment trial on August 3, 2026. The documents will be presented as evidence regarding the alleged misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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VP Sara Impeachment

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178574503232220260803-senate-impeachment-day11-MT10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the prosecution and defense panels confer as they stipulate on documents and acknowledgment receipts to be used as evidence for Article 1 of the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte during the 11th day of her impeachment trial on August 3, 2026. The documents will be presented as evidence regarding the alleged misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Not everything in the use of confidential funds is strictly confidential, Roderick Wamil, who used to be assigned to the Commission on Audit&#x27;s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office, testified at the Senate impeachment court on Monday, Day 11 of the<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial"> trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</a></p><p>Wamil, who audited how the Office of the Vice President spent P125 million in confidential funds from December 21-31, 2022, said COA-ICFAO had to issue Duterte&#x27;s office an Audit Observation Memorandum to seek more documentation on some expenses.</p><p>He said the OVP responded by sending acknowledgement receipts for the supposed payment of rewards and for the purchase of medicine, and of tables, chairs, printers and computers.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/3/ex-state-auditor-finds-non-allowable-expenses-in-ovp-confidential-funds-report-1311">Ex-state auditor finds non-allowable expenses in OVP confidential funds report</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;SECRET&#x27; SHOPS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o2pu9sRMdk8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong>He said it was not clear if the equipment was bought for confidential operations, but also said the purchases &quot;should have been supported with sale invoices and official receipts.&quot;</div><p>Wamil also said that the OVP was supposed to record where it bought the medicine and the equipment.</p><p>“Ang confidential po mismo ay yung paggagamitan, hindi yung pagbibilhan. Magkaibang bagay po kasi iyon,” he said during direct examination by Atty. Lorna Kapunan, counsel for the prosecution.</p><p>(What is confidential is what they would be used for, not where they were bought. Those are different things.)</p><p>Wamil also said that acknowledgement receipts — like one signed by the <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/3/ovp-payment-to-mary-grace-piattos-raised-in-senate-trial-1556">mysterious &quot;Mary Grace Piattos&quot;,</a> who the Philippine Statistics Authority said it has no records of — may require additional supporting document.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V4sNscpJ6Pw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Under Joint Circular No. 2015-01 on intelligence and confidential expenses, he said, cash released to informants as a reward must come with proof that the information-gathering or surveillance paid for was successful.</p><p>Alleged misuse of confidential funds is among the allegations that Duterte is facing at her impeachment trial. She has long denied the accusations against her and has said all of them are politically motivated.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>ALIASES ALLOWED</strong></div><p>Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua, a House prosecutor, earlier Monday acknowledged <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/3/chua-beyond-unusual-ovp-deped-withdrawals-focus-is-on-how-money-was-spent-1233">that aliases and pseudonyms are allowed in the use of confidential funds</a>.</p><p>The actual names of recipients have to be kept in sealed and secured envelopes so auditors can check themlater if they need to, he also said.</p><p>Wamil also told the impeachment court that the OVP&#x27;s initial accomplishment report, which prompted the Audit Observation Memorandum, did not list the &quot;specific confidential activities&quot; the confidential funds had been used for.</p><p>The auditor said he evaluated the OVP&#x27;s responses to the memorandum and the ICFAO issued a &quot;notice of suspension&quot;, which meant a temporary disallowance of some expenses because &quot;it appears that the disbursement is illegal, irregular or improper&quot;.</p><p>Agencies issued that notice have to submit additional documents or justifications to lift the suspension.</p><p>Wamil told the court he could not testify on what happened after that because he was later transferred to another COA unit.</p><p>The prosecution will continue direct examination on Tuesday, with the defense expected to ask Wamil its own questions during cross-examination.</p><p>Lanao del Sur First District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, a House trial spokesperson, said after trial that Wamil made clear that the use of confidential funds still needs detailed documentation.</p><p>“At ayon sa witness, kailangan ng detalyadong confidential activity para malaman kung compliant ba itong mga ginastos na pondo o ang paggastos ng confidential funds,&quot; he said.</p><p>(And the witness said confidential activity must be detailed to determine if the use of the funds is compliant with guidelines.)<strong> — Jonathan de Santos, with Jaehwa Bernardo Marilyn Cahatol, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><em>--</em></div><div><em>Trial resumes at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4.</em></div><div><em><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6B_X_xBIGX4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></em><br/></div>

<p>State auditor Roderick Wamil, who audited how the Office of the Vice President spent P125 million in confidential funds from December 21-31, 2022, said COA-ICFAO had to issue Duterte's office an Audit Observation Memorandum to seek more documentation on some expenses.</p>

State auditor Roderick Wamil, who audited how the Office of the Vice President spent P125 million in confidential funds from December 21-31, 2022, said COA-ICFAO had to issue Duterte's office an Audit Observation Memorandum to seek more documentation on some expenses.

WRAP: Not all details of confidential spending can be kept secret, auditor says

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WRAP: Not all details of confidential spending can be kept secret, auditor says

ABS-CBN News

Published August 03, 2026 04:21 PM PHT

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Roderick Wamil

Impeachment

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COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office

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