House Secretary General Reginald Velasco (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (MANILA BULLETIN, Malacañang photo)

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco trumpeted on Wednesday, Oct. 11 the spotless Statement of Audit Suspensions, Disallowances, and Charges (SASDC) of the House of Representatives. 

"As per latest COA (Commission on Audit) report released only last Oct. 2, the House of Representatives has no disallowances. No notice of suspension and no notice of charge," Velasco said in a statement. 

"Ibig pong sabihin, pasado kami sa COA audit (This means that we passed the COA)," added Velasco, who is the highest-ranked civilian official in the legislative chamber. 

A copy of the SASDC--signed by COA Supervising Auditor Isaiash Reynoso--was shared by the Speaker’s office to House reporters. 

(Speaker’s office)

The House official's statement came on the heels of former president Rodrigo Duterte's statement Tuesday,  Oct. 10 that Congress need to be audited in order to show Filipinos how taxpayers' money is spent. 

Duterte also alleged that Congress was “the most rotten institution” in the country. The House and the Senate comprise Congress. 

"The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, is in agreement with former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte that government expenditures should be transparent and fully auditable," Velasco said. 

"The House has no confidential and intelligence funds. All line items in our budget are subject to regular accounting and auditing rules and regulations," he noted. 

"Laging bukas po ang aming libro sa Commission on Audit (Our books are always open to the Commission on Audit)," added Velasco.