The Commission on Audit (COA) should just continue doing its constitutionally mandated job of safeguarding public funds, Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) chairman Jose Manuel “Chel” I. Diokno said on Tuesday, Aug. 17.

“COA should not be stopped from doing its job, which is to protect our people’s hard-earned money,” Diokno said in his social media post.

He pointed out: “Kakampi ng COA ang taumbayan (The COA has the people’s support).”

The FLAG, through Diokno, reacted to President Duterte’s public defense of the Department of Health (DOH) which was flagged by COA over P67.3-billion in “deficiencies” involving the funds for the government’s response against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“Imposibleng magnakaw ka ng P67.3 billion (It is impossible for one to steal P67.3 billion),” Duterte said in his recent pre-recorded address.

“Stop that flagging. You make a report, do not flag. Do not publish it because it would condemn the agency or person that you are flagging,” the President told the COA.

“Don't follow COA... nothing happens anyway. That's what I don't like, that flagging,” he also said.

But Diokbo said that “COA auditors should be praised instead of punished for flagging and reporting to the public.”

“The President seems to be forgetting our own Constitution,” he pointed out.

COA is a constitutional office that has 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....”