P11.8 million in Sandiganbayan foreign trips flagged over missing documents

National

MISSING paperwork has put millions of pesos in Sandiganbayan expenses under scrutiny, with state auditors flagging documentation gaps in foreign travel costs and the use of private hotels and resorts for official activities.

In its 2025 annual audit report on the anti-graft court, the Commission on Audit (COA) found that cash advances for overseas trips by court officials and employees were not fully supported by the required documents. The state auditor also cited deficiencies in the justification for renting privately owned venues for official functions.

The court disbursed P11,869,847.98 for seven foreign trips from September to December 2025, mostly for conferences and training activities. Destinations included Missouri in the United States; Victoria, Australia; Budapest, Hungary; Dubai in the United Arab Emirates; Doha, Qatar; and Singapore.

The most expensive trips were to Hungary, costing more than P2.5 million, followed by Dubai at over P1.88 million and Singapore at more than P1.82 million.

COA found that the travel cash advances lacked several required supporting documents, including invitation letters, airfare quotations and flight itineraries. More than P7.1 million of the total foreign travel expenses also lacked narrative reports.

The audit likewise raised questions about P621,783 in roundtrip airfare for three justices who attended a special course on artificial intelligence in the criminal legal profession in Hungary.

COA said the available records did not establish whether the ticket costs were within the allowable rates prescribed for official foreign travel.

Under the Sandiganbayan’s rules cited in the report, only the presiding justice is entitled to full business-class accommodation. Other court personnel must travel in economy class when airfare is not subsidized by the host country or sponsoring organization.

Beyond overseas travel, COA scrutinized the court’s spending on privately owned venues for official activities, citing inconsistent compliance with requirements to justify the rentals and document the procurement process.

The Sandiganbayan entered into 12 contracts with private lessors through negotiated procurement, spending P13,649,836.40 on venues, mostly four-star and five-star hotels within and outside Metro Manila. The facilities hosted seminars, workshops, the court’s Christmas party and other official activities in 2025.

The largest expense was P5,175,200 for an “executive briefing and capacity building” activity at Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, a heritage-themed resort in Bagac, Bataan.

Other activities took place at five-star establishments, including Clark Marriott Hotel in Pampanga and Baguio Country Club, as well as the four-star Seda Vertis North in Quezon City. These included a tree-planting activity incorporated into a special en banc session.

COA’s review of disbursement vouchers and supporting records found that some transactions lacked documentation showing whether government-owned venues had been considered before private facilities were selected. The court also failed to consistently provide written explanations demonstrating that renting private venues was more economical and efficient, or justifying the use of four-star and five-star hotels for official activities.(MyTVCebu)