DBP senior official named Audit Executive of the Year

MANILA, Philippines — An international group of audit practitioners has named a senior executive of state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) as Chief Audit Executive of the Year, citing his contributions in elevating the internal audit function in government service.

Senior vice president Ryan Gabinete, head of DBP’s internal audit group, was recently conferred the honor by the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Philippines, besting various candidates from both the private and public sectors.

“Our honoree has shaped the internal audit profession through decades of excellence, leadership, and innovation,” the IIA said in its introduction of Gabinete during the awarding ceremonies earlier this month. “His thought leadership spans fraud audit, strategic audit practices, and public sector reform, shared through national forums and professional organizations.”

DBP is the 10th largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four priority sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; the environment; and social services and community development.

IIA Philippines is part of a global network of audit professionals across 170 countries with over 200,000 members from various industries, dedicated to the advancement of internal audit profession. Its annual excellence awards recognizes leaders for their strategic expertise and significant contributions in attaining the highest standards of audit practice.

As an IIA awardee, Gabinete will also be nominated to the prestigious Institute of Internal Auditors Global Excellence Awards – Chief Audit Executive of the Year in 2026.

Gabinete’s extensive career encompasses various facets of accounting, including external audit, assurance services, internal audit, comptrollership, finance, tax and advisory services, as well as human resources and administration. He has dedicated more than 18 years to public practice, serving 11 years as a firm partner. His professional journey includes roles such as audit partner at KPMG Philippines.

He also served as engagement partner and group head for Ernst & Young in the Middle East, overseeing tax and advisory services, and later, assurance services. Earlier in his career, he gained valuable experience as a manager at PwC and as a senior auditor with KPMG Indonesia.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Commerce degree from San Beda University and his secondary education at Saint Anthony School . Both institutions awarded him a Distinguished Alumni Award. He served as batch president of the Public Management Development Program of the Development Academy of the Philippines.