AFP REFUTES CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS CITING COA REPORT

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday rejected social media claims that misrepresented findings in the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2024 report as proof of corruption.

Colonel Xerxes Trinidad clarified that the P201.86 million in unliquidated cash advances and P72.86 million in unauthorized bank accounts flagged by COA were intended for official purposes such as operations, medical aid, and humanitarian missions, and that the majority of the advances have already been liquidated.

The AFP has closed five of six questionable bank accounts and remitted the balances to the Bureau of the Treasury, while retaining one account for authorized inter-agency funds.

Trinidad emphasized that the military has received an “Unmodified Opinion” from COA for seven consecutive years, indicating its financial statements fairly reflect operations and that audit observations were either corrected or immaterial.

The AFP reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy against corruption, ongoing recovery efforts for unsettled funds, and full cooperation with COA and other oversight bodies.

Source: PhilNews24 | January 31, 2026