Sen. Chiz Escudero called out a key Commission on Audit exhibit for containing incorrect computations during the 13th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, raising questions about the accuracy of evidence presented before the impeachment court he presides over.
The COA notice of suspension listed ₱10.05 million for cash rewards, ₱34.857 million for goods and ₱24.93 million for medicines. While the figures add up to ₱69.837 million, the document incorrectly stated the total as ₱59.787 million.
“Can you total it again for me, sir? I totaled it and your total is wrong. Kindly total the figures that you wrote there,” Escudero told prosecution witness and former COA state auditor Roderick Wamil.
Wamil acknowledged that the total contained a typographical error but gave another incorrect figure.
“Yes, sir, that was typo error po. ₱69,787,000,” Wamil answered.
Escudero then pointed out that the corrected amount was still wrong by ₱50,000.
“Ang dami namang nagkamaling numero doon. From ₱59,787,000, ang tamang total ay ₱69,837,000,” Escudero said.
The exhibit relates to the Office of the Vice President’s ₱125-million confidential funds for Dec. 21 to 31, 2022, which were placed under a notice of suspension pending submission of supporting documents for payments covering rewards, goods and medicines.
The discrepancy drew attention because the exhibit is part of the documentary evidence being examined in the impeachment trial. Wamil was presented by the House prosecution under Article I, which alleges irregularities in the use and liquidation of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the DepEd.
