The Special Audit Team (SAT) of the Commission on Audit-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (COA-BARMM) has retrieved documents from the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in connection with the audit of alleged mishandled funds.

In a report by GMA New Online, COA has ordered a special audit of the P2.2 billion worth of disbursements for education materials by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Earlier, the BARMM government confirmed receipt of the COA letter for the special audit and said it would ''fully cooperate and provide assistance throughout the entire audit process.'

In the letter, COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba said the commission conducted an initial review of the payments following the filing of two complaints against MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal.

"Following the initial review by the relevant COA offices, the complaints merit the conduct of a special audit,” Cordoba said in his August 11, 2025 letter to BARMM Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua.

The first complaint involved the P1.77 billion payment made in a single day through the issuance of checks to individual personnel, including the cashier, purportedly for learners' and teachers' kits.

The second complaint has to do with the P449 million payment to a single supplier under allegedly questionable circumstances.

NO COORDINATION?

In a statement, MBHTE said military and police personnel entered its premises at the Bangsamoro Government Center in Cotabato City and assisted the SAT in the retrieval of documents from the Office of the resident COA auditor of the ministry on Friday, September 5.

However, MBHTE said there was no prior coordination with the MBHTE nor was a Mission Order presented by the armed personnel who entered the premises.

MBHTE also claimed that the lead auditor of the SAT was not present at the premises during the retrieval of documents and only a photocopy of the memorandum order purportedly issued by the COA chairperson was presented to justify the operation.

“The documents were physically handled by uniformed personnel instead of COA staff,” MBHTE said.

MBHTE also said that the presence of armed personnel “in full battle gear” inside the premises was uncalled for.

“Such an approach caused disruption of work and unnecessary fear and alarm among the employees of MBHTE,” MBHTE added.

MBHTE said it is reviewing the incident and set to explore appropriate legal remedies available.

“While the MBHTE reiterates its commitment to adhere to all lawful auditing processes, we also hope that future undertakings of this nature will be carried out with due regard for coordination, appropriateness, and respect for the working environment of civilian personnel,” MBHTE said.

(With reports from GMA News Online)