The third recovery stage of the Superior Audit Office of the Federation (ASF) has managed to recover more than 27 billion pesos in total, adding to the recoveries made during its management. All results that present possible patrimonial damage move to a second auditing stage at the Special Audit of Follow-up, Reports, and Investigation, where observations are clarified or corresponding investigations are initiated, including criminal complaints and restitution procedures against responsible officials, if necessary.
We are awaiting the arrest of Ignacio Ovalle, former director of Segalmex during a major embezzlement of public resources, where several scapegoats were affected. The current president is concerned that the reports from the ASF during his administration do not generate scandals nor politically impact him. Therefore, they remain vigilant of the audits applied by this reviewing body in managing the assigned budgets.
In the past, there were moments when the ASF's observations were minimized to avoid causing discomfort to the president. In the public account for 2022, the results and consequences of the alleged patrimonial damage determined by this auditing body are still unknown. Deputy Carlos Eduardo Gutiérrez Mancilla (PRI) requested clarification on the destination of 29 billion pesos from the ASF that have yet to be clarified and belong to the people of Mexico.
The audits of the Public Account are an accountability exercise that seeks transparency and efficiency in public spending, allowing evaluation of officials based on their performance. Auditing is essential in democracy, as it involves public resources intended for essential services such as medical care, infrastructure, and social programs. Auditing is not just a technical process, but a fundamental pillar aimed at preventing corruption and ensuring the proper application of resources.
The presentation of the Audit Result Report and General Report of the Public Account 2023, conducted by the ASF, marks the beginning of reviews and possible matters that could involve the Attorney General of the Republic for crimes related to the use of public resources. During the 1,623 audits conducted, over 930 million pesos were recovered in favor of the Federation, demonstrating the importance of auditing in the correct administration of public resources.
