FACT CHECK: COA did not say Sara Duterte has a ‘clean record’

Claim: The Commission on Audit (COA) said Vice President Sara Duterte has a “clean record,” so there should be no impeachment trial against her.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The Facebook post making the claim has 4,200 reactions, 1,400 comments, and 63 shares as of writing. 

“Paano na yan mga buwaya? Maleta gang COA declared na malinis ang record ni VP Sara. Wala [nang] impeachment, no evidence to prove,” the post reads.

(What now, you crocodiles? Suitcase gang COA has declared VP Sara’s record clean. No impeachment —there is no evidence to prove the allegations.)

The user that posted the account has 15,000 followers.

The facts: COA has made no such declaration. In contrast, the agency has even issued multiple notices of disallowance to the Duterte-led Office of the Vice President (OVP). A transaction is disallowed if it is deemed an “illegal, irregular, unnecessary, excessive, extravagant, or unconscionable expenditure,” according to a COA circular.

Earlier in April, it affirmed its notice of disallowance on the OVP’s P73.287 million in confidential expenses in 2022. The notice refers to the OVP’s spending for rewards and the purchase of tables, chairs, desktops, computers, and printers, made from December 21 to 31, 2022. 

Her office’s P375 million in confidential expenses for 2023 were also disallowed for lacking sales invoices or official receipts, and documentation to prove the success of information-gathering or surveillance activities.

The confidential funds in question are the subject of the Vice President’s impeachment trial. They are cited in Article I of the four articles of impeachment against Duterte, which the House of Representatives claims establish culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust. (LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte)

‘Unmodified opinion’: While not mentioned explicitly, the post may be referring to the COA’s issuance of an unmodified opinion for the OVP’s financial documents in 2025. Such an audit opinion, however, does not mean full compliance with laws or that the funds were used efficiently, according to the COA. 

An unmodified opinion only means that the financial statements were prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the audit agency’s applicable financial reporting framework and guidelines.

Debunked: Rappler has repeatedly debunked claims like these in the past.

• FACT CHECK: COA didn’t ‘clear’ VP Sara of fund misuse; impeachment case not junked
• FACT CHECK: ‘Highest COA rating’ claim for OVP under Sara Duterte is misleading  
• FACT CHECK: Post falsely claims COA opinion ‘clears’ OVP of irregularities
• FACT CHECK: COA flagged issues in OVP programs, spending

– Shay Du/Rappler.com

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