A lawmaker has stated that it is too early to declare the Commission on Audit’s (COA) findings on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential funds as grounds for impeachment.
This statement comes amid circulating speculations that the COA audit report could be used as a basis for a possible move to remove the Vice President from office.
It can be recalled that the House Committee on Appropriations issued a subpoena for the COA report concerning the utilization of the confidential intelligence funds (CIF) by the OVP from 2022 to 2023.
Reports indicate that the OVP spent P125 million in CIF within just 11 days. However, the Vice President clarified that the funds were actually spent over 19 days, from December 13 to December 31, 2022.
Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Janette Garin warned against rushing to judgment, emphasizing that the motion by ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro aims to correct any discrepancies.
Meanwhile, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong highlighted that the COA report is part of the regular budgeting processes. Adiong also stressed that an impeachment process would be counterproductive.
He added that focusing on the impeachment issue could hinder their legislative work.