NEWS
24March
MBHTE decries unauthorized leak of 'Confidential' audit document; calls for probe
- Mar 24, 2026
- Taher G. Solaiman
- HITS: 260
COTABATO CITY — The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) expressed "serious concern" on Sunday over the unauthorized circulation of a preliminary audit document, asserting that the leak undermines the integrity of government confidentiality and due process.
The document in question, explicitly marked as "Strictly Confidential – For Comments Purposes Only," has reportedly been circulating through unauthorized channels. According to the Ministry, the material is part of an ongoing internal review and does not represent a final audit conclusion.
Protecting Due Process
In an official statement, the MBHTE emphasized that such documents are intended to facilitate internal clarification, and that releasing them prematurely without proper context is "improper" and violates established administrative rules.
"The Ministry underscores that the release of this material to the public... undermines established rules on confidentiality within government processes," the statement read.
MBHTE maintained that all its financial transactions remain subject to lawful procedures and that it is fully cooperating with the Commission on Audit (COA).
Call for Accountability
Taking a firm stance on the security of government records, the Ministry called upon the COA to investigate how the strictly confidential document was disclosed to the public.
"The Ministry calls on the Commission on Audit to immediately look into how a document... was disclosed outside authorized channels, and to take the necessary steps to preserve the integrity of its audit processes," the Ministry added.
A Plea for Discernment
As the issue gains traction, the MBHTE urged the public to exercise discernment and avoid drawing premature conclusions. The Ministry reiterated that it remains committed to addressing all audit observations through proper, lawful channels once the process is complete.
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