"Hinay-hinay po sana (Let's calm down)."
This was Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque's appeal to the public amid the publication of the preliminary reports of the Commission on Audit (COA) on the spending of different agencies, saying these were initial observations that can still be answered by those concerned.
Roque made the statement after COA cited deficiencies in the 2020 spendings of different agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
In his press briefing on Thursday, August 19, Roque said the COA reports were not yet final so the public should calm down.
"Magsusumite ng komento, pagkatapos po magkakaroon ng final report ang COA. Sa final report po, 'yan ang pwedeng magamit na ebidensiya sa hukuman (The agencies will still have to submit make their comment, then there will be the final COA report which can be used as evidence in court)," he said.
"Pero hindi lang po 'yan ang hihingiing ebidensiya ng hukuman-- isa lang po 'yan. Kinakailangan, meron pang ibang mga testigo para mapatunayan kung meron ngang paglabag sa ating batas on graft and corruption (But that's just a piece of evidence required by the court. There should be witnesses to prove that there was a violation of our anti-graft and corruption law)," he added.
"So, sa ngayon po, ang aking advice, cool muna po tayo. Dahil itong puntong ito, pwede pa pong sagutin at antayin po natin ang mga final report (So, for now, my advice is let us all cool down. At this point, the agencies can still answer. Let's wait for the final report)," he continued.
Roque said that agencies concerned should answer COA's initial observations fast so the issues can be resolved immediately and so the COA can publish its final report.
"Siguro po, pag may final report na, 'yan po ang ikokonsidera ng Presidente. Dahil abogado naman ang Presidente, alam niyang bumasa ng COA report (Perhaps the President will reconsider once the final report is out. The President is a lawyer who knows how to read COA reports)," he said.
"Pero sa ngayon po talaga, yung mga preliminary investigations, wala pa pong ibig sabihin 'yan (But for now, those preliminary investigations do not mean anything)," he added.
President Duterte on Monday asked COA to stop flagging agencies as they condemn the agencies or people concerned after it discovered deficiencies in the management of some P67.32 billion in coronavirus funds of the DOH.
Roque explained that Duterte only wished for COA to refrain from publishing its preliminary observations, not its annual audit report.
"Yung final report, talagang sinusumite po 'yan sa Kongreso, sa Malacañang, at sa buong sambayanang Pilipino (The final report should be submitted to Congress, Malacañang, and the entire Filipino nation)," he said.
"Pero yung preliminary, habang hindi pa po pinal ang mga obserbasyon, hinay-hinay po sana (As to the preliminary reports, while the observations are not yet final, let's calm down)," he added.