Director Chona P. Labrague assumed as Regional Director of the Commission on Audit (COA) Regional Office (RO) No. IV-A on February 1, 2024. A Lawyer and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) by profession, she has an extensive and remarkable audit and administrative experience acquired through her 28 years of government service.

Born and raised in Cebu City, Director Labrague comes from a family of inspired public servants. Her father’s valiant service in the Philippine Army and her mother’s unwavering commitment as a public school teacher both had shaped her into becoming an accomplished professional.

Her impressive academic achievements are testaments to her strong commitment and dedication: graduated as Cum Laude in Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Accounting from the University of San Jose-Recoletos in 1989; took and passed the CPA Board Examinations in 1991; earned her Bachelor of Laws from Southwestern University, Cebu City in 2000; and successfully passed the Bar Examinations in October 2001.

Before her employment in the Commission on Audit, or from 1996 to 2001, she was the Head of the Accounting Unit of the Department of Education Culture and Sports-National Science Teaching Instrumentation Center (DECS-NSTIC) in Cebu City. She joined the Commission in 2001 as State Auditor I and steadily rose from the ranks to eventually become the Director of Fraud Audit Office-Special Services Sector at COA Central Office. Within the years 2016 to 2020, she served as the Officer-in-Charge of COA RO No. XVI-Negros Island Region and the Regional Director of COA RO No. VI in Iloilo City. Prior to her present designation in COA RO IV-A, she had a brief stint as Director and Cluster Director of the Prosecution and Litigation Office, Legal Services Sector, and Cluster 3-Public Utilities, Corporate Government Audit Sector, respectively.

Director Labrague is recognized as an invaluable asset to the Commission, having engaged in and posted to audit international organizations. These include her designation as Team Leader in the audit of Foreign-Based Government Agencies (FBGAS) for the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Brasilia, Brazil in September 2014, and for the DFA, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Tourism, and Tourism and Promotions Board in Shanghai, China in October 2019.

Given her exceptional skills, determination to achieve remarkable outcomes, and a knack for detecting fraudulent transactions, she was chosen by the Commission to represent the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) Philippines during the Annual Meeting of the INTOSAI Working Group on Fight Against Corruption and Money Laundering in Bangkok, Thailand in October 2023. There, she presented, first, the best practices and experiences in the field of fighting corruption and money laundering, and secondly, on the topic “The Role of SAI in Employing the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Fighting Corruption.”

Director Labrague is a proficient auditor and virtuous public servant. Throughout her long years of assignment and vast experience at the Fraud Audit Office, she gained expertise in detecting fraud in the utilization of government funds and property. Among the notable special audit engagements she spearheaded that reflected her sheer dedication, deep sense of purpose, hard work, commitment to excellence and most skillful navigation of complex situations in conducting audit investigations are the controversial transactions of the Philippine National Police particularly on the (a) purchase of spare parts and contract for repair and maintenance of 18 units of V-150 Light Armored Vehicles in the amount of P397,584,064.00; (b) purchase of three units of light police operational helicopters amounting to P71,765,999.00; and (c) purchase of 75 units of rubber boats and 93 units of outboard motors totaling P131,550,000.00.

Moreover, and despite being relatively a novice in the Commission, in 2004, she diligently carried-out her duties and responsibilities as a good public servant, having meticulously conducted an investigation in the incurrence by an accountable officer of cash shortage. Said accountable officer was eventually found guilty by the Regional Trial Court, Cebu City of malversation and misappropriation of public funds.

Without doubt, Director Labrague has established herself as an industry leader and trusted authority with unquestionable integrity. Truly, the Commission on Audit in general, and COA Region IV-A in particular, are fortunate to have her as one of its pillars who has, through the years, contributed to the success of COA’s mission of promoting accountability and transparency in the public sector.