MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte criticized some senators on Thursday for allegedly “posturing” by using the Commission on Audit’s (COA) audit reports on various government agencies’ funding deficiencies.
Duterte advised Filipinos in a recorded Talk to the People not to be influenced by investigations of some senators who are only seeking attention.
“Huwag ho kayong maniwala diyan sa mga imbestigasyon, imbestigasyon. Makita naman ninyo walang nangyayari puro lang, ‘We will investigate, investigate (Do not believe in investigations. Nothing happens there. They just keep saying, ‘We will investigate),’” Duterte said.
The COA’s 2020 audit report, which was recently issued, identified deficiencies that require explanation from several government agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH).
The COA report has spurred separate hearings in the Senate and House of Representatives on the government’s use of public funds.
However, Duterte claimed that the Senate hearings were pointless.
“Pakinggan mo ‘yung mga ibang senador diyan, mayroon talagang masabi (Listen to some senators there, that have so much to say). After an investigation, one or two or three days you’re hearing, wala na (you won’t hear anything from them),” he said.
According to Duterte, Senators did not even make recommendations because all they know is “posturing”.
“Walang rekomendasyon, walang dinemanda, walang napreso. Puro postura lang, question, question. Iyan ang mahirap sa (They do not have a recommendation. No one is facing a lawsuit. No one goes to jail. It’s just all posturing. They just asked questions. That’s the problem),” he said. “’Yung lahat na pakulo nila na hindi naman totoo at kaagad sinasakyan para lang makaporma (That’s just their gimmick and they ride on the issue for publicity even if the accusation [against several agencies] is not true).”
Duterte has previously advised the COA to “reconfigure” its audit reports in order to avoid the public perception that identified government agencies had engaged in irregularities.
He has also requested the state auditing authority to clarify in its report that the inadequacies discovered do not imply that a state department is corrupt.
Duterte made the remark while defending Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who has been chastised for the DOH’s alleged failures in managing the PHP67.32 billion coronavirus disease 2019 response funds.
Article IX-D, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution states that the COA “shall have the power, authority, and duty to examine, audit, and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue and receipts of, and expenditures or uses of funds and property, owned or held in trust by, or pertaining to, the Government, or any of its subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or -controlled corporations with original charters, and on a post-audit basis.”
Aside from the Commission on Elections and the Civil Service Commission, it is one of three independent constitutional bodies in the country.
No irregularities
Duterte reassured the nation once more that the government is properly managing public funds.
“Nandito naman po kami (We are just here always). This is your regular program of government mainly to show to the people where the money is going – anong nangyari sa pera ninyo at ano ‘yung ginagawa. (what happened to the money and how that was spent). Importante kasi alam niyo ‘yung pera na nandiyan at alam ninyo na ginagamit sa hustong paraan (You need to know that the money was spent properly). That’s the reason for this program,” Duterte said.
Duterte also stated that he will be the “last person” to betray the Filipino people.
“So ako Presidente ninyo (I’m your President), you trusted me, you voted for me so that I would be the last person, ako ‘yung pinakahuling taong manloko sa inyo (to deceive you). At puwede ninyo akong – hindi na ako Presidente – patayin ninyo ako kung ako’y nagkamali o nagsisinungaling (You can kill me, once I’m no longer president, if I made a mistake or lied),” he said.
