Congress has oversight on confidential fund use - ex-COA exec

Vice President Sara Duterte cannot use confidentiality as an excuse not to respond to questions of lawmakers regarding her office's use of confidential funds, a former Commission on Audit (COA) commissioner said.

- By JANVIC MATEO

In an interview with "Storycon" on One News yesterday, former COA commissioner Heidi Mendoza said Congress has oversight over the use of confidential and intelligence funds.

She cited the joint circular on the use of these funds, which mandates the submission of accomplishment reports to the president, Senate president and speaker of the House.

"When you submit an accomplishment report, it follows that you can be asked (about it)," Mendoza said in a mix of English and Filipino.