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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte defends DOH from COA audit, says P67.3-B COVID-19 funds not missing

Duterte defends DOH from COA audit, says P67.3-B COVID-19 funds not missing

Published Aug 17, 2021 01:24 am

President Duterte said that it is “impossible” to steal P67.3 billion as he defended the Department of Health (DOH) after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged “deficiencies” in the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 funds.

President Rodrigo Duterte delivers his regular address to the nation on August 16, 2021. (RTVM Screenshot)

The issue of whether the money was stolen, the President added, is “pure bullshit.”

“Imposibleng magnakaw ka ng P67.3 billion (It is impossible to steal P67.3 billion),” he said during a prerecorded public address that aired Tuesday midnight.

“Ang labas niyan sa mga tao akala nawala. Andiyan ‘yung pera (It looked like it’s gone. The money is there). It could also run counter to public policy if you don’t publish it just to inform the people of what is going on,” Duterte added.

The Chief Executive explained that what the state auditors meant with “deficiencies” is that the agency hasn’t completed submitting the paperwork to justify these expenditures.

It doesn’t mean that the money was stolen, rather it is “deficiencies really in producing the necessary documents.”

READ: DOH says P67.3 billion flagged by COA ‘accounted for’

The COA report’s “exit call” even pointed out “what needs to be done further to complete the papers.”

“Alam mo (You know), COA, every now and then, maraming regulasyon eh. Naghahabol ang bureaucracy niyan (there are a lot of regulations. The bureaucracy is trying to comply). Many government workers who are placed in a bad light because paglabas nitong COA audit nilagay itong mga deficiences (when COA released their audit, they put the deficiencies),” the President said.

COA earlier released a report that raised questions on how the Health department used over P67.3 billion in COVID-19 funds. The report said that there are “deficiencies” in the agency’s management of the funds.

READ: ‘Hindi kami aatras’: DOH ready to face any investigation on P67-B COVID-19 funds

A day after it released the report, the state auditors clarified that it did not mention findings linked to corruption.

Rather, the report comes with recommendations for the Health department to address the findings and comply or rectify its shortcomings.

This is not the first time the President came to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s defense, following the lack of public confidence in him because of the unfavorable COA report.

Last year, he vouched for the Health chief after a whistleblower alleged that he was the “godfather” of the PhilHealth mafia.

Related Tags

President Duterte COVID-19 FUNDS COA francisco duque iii deficiencies doh
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