Defense questions submission of COA docs to House

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Wednesday questioned the Commission on Audit’s (COA) submission of documents concerning the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds to the House of Representatives.

While cross-examining witness Xylene Del Campo, defense counsel Kristine Ferrer said that under Joint Circular No. 2015-01, liquidation documents submitted by agencies must only be examined by the COA-Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (ICFAO).

She said this was intended to prevent disclosure of confidential information.

“The joint circular likewise requires the security officer to safeguard the confidential information from unauthorized disclosure,” she said.

“And yet, during the COJ hearing you transmitted documents to the Committee on Justice,” she added.

Del Campo explained that the documents were requested through a subpoena.

Ferrer then questioned whether the House was among the individuals authorized to handle the audit of the confidential funds of the OVP and the DepEd.

The witness answered that ICFAO has the responsibility to conduct a post-audit.

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan, meanwhile, said that the questions were beyond the topic of cross examination.

This led Presiding Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero to ask Ferrer to move on.

Meanwhile, Ferrer also asked whether Del Campo agreed that COA is independent, free from political pressure, and free from executive control, to which the witness agreed.

Ferrer, however, said that COA adopted the results of the investigation of House hearings.

“Ito po bang mga findings ninyo with respect to Lachica, natanong niyo ho ba si Lachica kung totoo ito… How about si Colonel Nolasco, tinanong niyo ho ba kung tama ‘yung mga pinag sasabi about sa kanya,” Ferrer said.

(Regarding these findings concerning Lachica, did you ask Lachica whether these were true? How about Colonel Nolasco, did you ask him whether the things being said about him were accurate?)

Del Campo said they relied on the admissions under oath during the hearing.

Meanwhile, Ferrer questioned Del Campo if the circular has a provision on the minimum number of days a confidential fund should be used.

Del Campo said there is no such specification. —VAL, GMA News