Manila, Sept. 3 -- An acknowledgment receipt alone cannot justify the payment of rewards from confidential funds, the Commission on Audit (COA) clarified Thursday as it outlined tighter safeguards being considered for secret fund transactions, including verifying identities hidden behind aliases.

During the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on COA's proposed 2027 budget, Commissioner Douglas Mallillin said rewards to informants must be supported by evidence showing that the information provided resulted in a successful intelligence or confidential operation.

"Pag sinabi po natin reward, may kaakibat na success. At mas mahigpit po ang pag-audit ng reward (When we say reward, it comes with success. And the auditing of rewards is strict...