OVP spent P16 million in confidential funds on 34 safehouses in 2022 — COA

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent a total of P16 million in confidential funds on the rental and maintenance of safehouses over 11 days in December 2022, the Commission on Audit (COA) confirmed on Thursday, October 17.

During the House good governance committee's investigation into the alleged misuse of public funds, COA revealed the P16 million was based on 34 acknowledgment receipts submitted for the period from December 21 to Dec. 31, 2022.

The P16 million is part of the P125 million in confidential funds disbursed in just 11 days.

Asked how many safehouses the OVP rented, Gloria Camora, COA Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Officer (ICFAO), explained that each acknowledgment receipt likely corresponds to one safe house.

“We have no information on how many safehouses that 500,000 was spent on. … It just means 34 people were paid for the rental of safehouse. ... There’s information that one receipt could pertain to one safehouse,” she said. 

Lawmakers pressed Camora for a definitive answer, to which she confirmed the assumption of 34 safehouses was correct. This indicates the OVP rented a total of 34 safehouses, amounting to P16 million in 2022.

"So if I ask you, 'yung receipt amounting to P500,000 for the payment of rental of a safehouse, would it be logical for me to conclude that this is for one safehouse for 11 days?" Rep. Romeo Acop (Antipolo, 2nd District) asked.

"Yes, Mr. Chair," Camora answered. 

"Kanina sinabi po ninyo sa 34 na 'to, 34 po 'yung safehouse. Ibig sabihin isang resibo represents one safehouse. Tama po?" Rep. Joel Chua (Manila, 2nd District) clarified, which the state auditor confirmed again. 

Camora estimated that around P1.45 million on average was spent for one safehouse over 11 days. 

How much was spent each day. Rep. Joel Chua (Manila, 2nd District), who chairs the House committee, presented a table detailing the amounts and dates of each acknowledgment receipt. 

The lowest rental and maintenance expense made according to the acknowledgment receipts in a day for one safehouse was P250,000, while the highest was P1 million, Camora confirmed to Chua.

Chua also highlighted how P8.75 million or