President Rodrigo Duterte slammed the Commission on Audit (COA) for flagging the “deficiencies” of the P67.3 billion fund set aside for the COVID-19 response, even though it was just doing its job some groups said.
In Duterte’s speech Monday night, he vented his anger and said there seems to be corruption in the administration.
“I said, the paper that they are holding, or papers… in their custody, are really insufficient and deficient kung kailan ang ano. Huwag ka munang mag-audit hanggang hindi pa natapos ang trabaho ko,” he said.
“Iyan lang naman sana ang hinihingi natin. Do not conduct an audit on our work na ongoing pa kasi dino-document pa ‘yan.”
The billions of funds noted by the COA in their report include “unutilized funds,” procurement shortages, and “unauthorized grants” of meal allowances. As of December 31, 2020, it appears that there are P11.89 billion in unobligated funds in the DOH, according to the COA, something that would have been used to enhance the agency’s capacity in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duterte tells COA to stop ‘flagging’ DOH
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III had earlier said that they “did not embezzle” the money, which was all accounted for and used to procure test kits, personal protective equipment, payment of healthcare workers’ benefits, and remuneration. Of the P79.7 billion COVID funds obtained by the agency based on COA reports, P68.9 billion was allegedly used in December 2020.
The DOH added that the Office of the President also “allows” meal provisions in the form of money, which was previously called unauthorized.
“‘Pag mag-ano ang COA, magsabi lang ‘yan siya deficiency na mga gano’n gano’n, hindi man sabihin na deficiency na ninakaw mo ‘yung pera. Deficiencies in… in producing the necessary documents to complete the story. Imposible magnakaw ka ng 67.3 [bilyon],”
“[W]hat needs to be done further to complete the papers… Many government worker na who were placed in a bad light because paglabas nitong COA audit ilagay itong mga deficiencies kagay nitong 67.3 [bilyon], mga gano’n, ang labas niyan sa mga tao akala nawala. Nandiyan ‘yung pera,” Duterte said.
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