President Rodrigo Roa Duterte scolds the Commission on Audit for reportedly releasing reports that are allegedly “premature” and shows “taints of corruption.”
In his regular press briefing, Duterte says what COA is doing is what he calls “flogging” that harms the government agency. He also noted COA’s propensity to reveal contents of their reports without filing cases of corruption against heads of agencies.
Several reports have surfaced that allegedly points to a 67 billion pesos discrepancies in the use of Bayanihan funds by several agencies, particularly the Department of Health.
Health secretary Francisco Duque has since denied any tinge of corrupt practices in the agency he heads. Duque says his agency can account for any single cent.
Several political personalities, including Senator Manny Pacquiao Jr., and even Blue Ribbon committee chair Richard Gordon had flagged President Duterte of reported anomalies in the distribution of the ayuda by another agency, the Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD. Senators Leila de Lima, Hontiveros and even Panfilo “Ping” Lacson have given their statements urging a quick accounting of funds used by the health department.
