The Office of the Vice President (OVP), led by Vice President Sara Duterte, has received an unmodified opinion from the Commission on Audit (COA) for Calendar Year 2025, marking the fourth consecutive year the office has earned the state auditor's highest audit opinion. The announcement was made in a statement released on Thursday, July 2, just days before Duterte is scheduled to face an impeachment trial before the Senate.
COA Affirms Fair Presentation of Financial Statements
According to COA's Independent Auditor's Report, the audit covered the OVP's statement of financial position, statement of financial performance, statement of cash flows, statement of changes in net assets or equity, statement comparing budget and actual amounts, and the accompanying notes to the financial statements. The report stated: "In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of OVP as at December 31, 2025, and its financial performance, cash flows, changes in net assets/equity, and comparison of budget and actual amounts for the year then ended, and notes to financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies in accordance with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs)."
The audit was conducted in accordance with the International Standards of Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs). COA noted that it obtained sufficient and appropriate audit evidence to support its opinion and found no material misstatements in the OVP's financial statements.
Unmodified Opinion: Highest Audit Rating
An unmodified opinion, also known as an unqualified opinion, is the most favorable audit opinion COA can issue. It signifies that an agency's financial statements fairly present its financial condition in accordance with the prescribed accounting framework, particularly IPSAS. However, the audit opinion pertains solely to the fairness and reliability of an agency's financial statements, not to its operational performance or program effectiveness.
The OVP described the latest audit opinion as proof of its continued commitment to transparency, accountability, and prudent fiscal management. "The fourth consecutive unmodified opinion underscores the OVP's sustained commitment to transparency, accountability, and responsible stewardship of public funds, while reinforcing its adherence to the principles of good governance and sound financial management," the office said.
Budget Utilization and Audit Timeline
Aside from the clean audit opinion, the OVP reported that it utilized 92.32 percent of its allocation under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, which it said reflected responsible budget management despite expanded operations and increasing demand for its public service programs. The audit report was transmitted by COA through a letter dated June 16, while the annual audit report itself was dated May 15.
The release of the audit findings comes just days before Vice President Duterte is scheduled to stand trial before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
