Auditor Testifies Sara Duterte Misused 125 Million Pesos

A state auditor testified during the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte that the Office of the Vice President misused 125 million pesos in confidential funds during 2022. Xylene Mae Del Campo of the Commission on Audit stated that funds designated for surveillance and intelligence-gathering were instead spent on Christmas parties, thanksgiving events, tree-planting activities, and the distribution of wheelchairs.

Del Campo noted that some of these activities took place before the funds were officially released on December 20, 2022. She further clarified that government regulations prohibit the use of confidential funds for reimbursements. Consequently, the Commission on Audit disallowed 73 million pesos of the total spending.

Defense lawyer Michael Poa denied any irregularity, arguing that the funds were used to secure the events in question. The allegations regarding the misuse of funds constitute one of four impeachment charges against the Vice President, which also include bribery, amassing unexplained wealth, and threatening President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.