It has the primary function to examine, audit and settle all accounts and expenditures of the funds and properties of the Philippine government.

The 1973 constitution renamed the GAO to the Commission on Audit, a collegial body led by a chairman, with two commissioners.

They must be natural-born citizens of at least thirty-five years of age, and must be either a Certified Public Accountant or a lawyer.

Villar resigned before he served out the full seven-year term as chairman, but prior to the resolution of the case.

Teofisto Guingona Jr. Eufemio Domingo Pascacio Banaria Bartolome Fernandez Jr. Alberto Cruz Raul Flores Evelyn San Buenaventura Ma.