Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte faces impeachment trial over confidential fund misuse

On August 5, 2026, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its 13th day. Former Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Roderick Wamil returned to the witness stand to answer clarifying questions about alleged misuse of confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). The OVP received P500 million in confidential funds for the fourth quarter of 2022 through the third quarter of 2023, while DepEd received P112.5 million for the first three quarters of 2023 when Duterte served as education secretary.

Wamil explained that a COA suspension notice creates a presumption that undisclosed funds were used for personal benefit under Joint Circular No. 2015‑01. He noted that COA disallowed P73 million of the P125 million OVP confidential allocation for the last quarter of 2022, treating the shortfall as prima facie evidence of personal use. Senator‑judge Imee Marcos asked whether the COA had formally found the funds were pocketed, and Wamil reiterated the statutory presumption without a direct finding.