INDEPENDENT senatorial candidate and former state auditor Heidi Mendoza yesterday said Vice President Sara Duterte is obliged by government rules to disclose both to Congress and the Commission on Audit (COA) who were the confidential informants of her office.
In an interview with host Gretchen Ho on TV5’s Morning Matters, Mendoza said the guidelines on the use of confidential funds require the head of the agency to adopt internal controls to ensure accountability of public funds and prevent misuse.
“As head of the agency, it is there in the guidelines, you are to adopt internal controls that will protect the funds. This means if you have a list of aliases (of confidential informants), you must also keep a separate list of their real identities,” the former COA commissioner said.
She said the same body of rules require the head of the agency to produce the list on demand when asked to do so either by the COA or by Congress.
“One of the controls as specified in the guidelines is the keeping of the journal that is subject to inspection by the Commission on Audit or its representative, when questions are raised. Yes, it’s true an agency may write down only the aliases. But as a government official, first and foremost, your responsibility is to safeguard the people’s money,” she pointed out.
Mendoza stressed that heads of agencies cannot refuse congressmen if they want to verify the names in the journal since the House of Representatives have oversight powers on the government budget.
She also dismissed allegations that the COA findings on the Duterte’s confidential funds were rushed and that the OVP was subjected to trial by publicity.
“That allegation of trial by publicity is a tired line. Ask any state auditor, that’s the usual defense when we are auditing an agency. In fact, auditors cannot do that, we are barred from speaking about the audit,” she said, adding that findings usually become public once journalists write about COA’s reports which are accessible online on its official website.
“COA observes due process of law, from the time the AOM (audit observation memorandum) is issued, to the time the Notice of Suspension comes out, all the way to the issuance of a Notice of Disallowance. Those things allow for enough time to comply with due process. The audited agency is given enough time,” she also said.
“With regard to Congress discussing these things at the level of the committee, I think that falls under the so-called oversight in the budget,” Mendoza said.
During the House congressional hearings, it was revealed that the OVP paid informants named Mary Grace Piattos, Chippy McDonald, Fernando Tempura, and Carlos Oishi – all curiously similar to brand names of popular snacks.
The Vice President has resisted efforts by the lower house to compel disclosure of the real names of the individuals, including more than 1,600 others that the chamber has asked the Philippine Statistics Authority to verify.
Mendoza said there are several ways to ensure tighter control over the use of confidential funds.
“If elected senator, I will require the audit of the entire confidential funds. We need it to provide a basis to gauge the extent of abuse. We need to document how it was done, which abusive practices were resorted to. We need to profile all of these for audit purposes,” she said.
“Second, I will move for the creation of an oversight committee within the Senate, not only composed of senators. We can also bring in or invite ng intelligence practitioners. The committee will draw up the national security plan,” Mendoza said.
Meanwhile, the “Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas” senatorial slate backed by President Marcos Jr. is slated to hold a major rally today in San Jose del Monte.
Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, Alyansa’s campaign manager, said the event to be held at the City College of San Jose Del Monte Grounds is part of the administration coalition’s nationwide push for good governance, economic empowerment and social justice.
Bulacan, one of the country’s most vote-rich provinces, has 2,173,026 registered voters for the May 2025 midterm elections, making SJDM a crucial stop in Alyansa’s campaign.
The Alyansa ticket includes former Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati City Mayor Abby Binay; reelectionist Senators Ramon Revilla, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Imee Marcos, and Francis Tolentino; former senators Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao, Vicente Sotto III, ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, and Deputy Speaker Camille Villar.
Tiangco said the slate is committed to addressing local development concerns, including improving urban mobility and ensuring the timely completion of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), which promises to enhance connectivity and economic activity in the area.
The completion of the MRT-7, originally set for late 2025, has faced adjustments due to planning refinements and construction requirements.
Recognizing SJDM’s economic potential, Alyansa’s legislative agenda includes job creation, business growth, and infrastructure-driven development.
