Bayan Muna: “Mukhang joke lang din yata ang anti-corruption drive ng Duterte administration”
A day after President Rodrigo Duterte called out the Commission on Audit (COA), Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Isagani Zarate said the administration’s anti-corruption campaign was a joke.
According to Zarate, Duterte used to say that even a “whiff of corruption” is not allowed under his administration. But now, the agency tasked to examine, audit, and settle all accounts and expenditures of the funds and properties of the Philippine government is being silenced and those who have irregularities in the use of public funds are being protected.
The solon added that the admin’s anti-corruption campaign is similar to Duterte’s joke that he will ride a jetski to fight for the country’s territory against China.
Zarate said COA is doing what’s being mandated in accordance with the Constitution and it should continue to monitor how the country’s funds are spent.
He noted that if its task to monitor irregularities and corruption stops, there will be massive dishonesty in the government which will only affect the interest of the people.
He added that instead of lambasting COA, the President should have thanked the said government agency for performing its job.
Meanwhile, Duterte slammed COA on Monday night after it pointed out the deficiencies in the Department of Health’s (DOH) spending on the P67 billion COVID-19 response fund.
According to the annual audit report of COA for DOH in 2020, the deficiencies are caused by non-compliance with pertinent laws and regulations.
The Commission on Audit (COA) is an independent constitutional commission established by the Constitution of the Philippines. It has the primary function to examine, audit and settle all accounts and expenditures of the funds and properties of the Philippine government.
Roland C. Pondoc is the incumbent commissioner of COA. He was appointed in February 2018.
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