Makabayan solon rejects proposed non-publication of COA observation memo
At A Glance
- ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro has rejected Ombudsman Samuel Martires' proposal to not publish the Commission on Audit's (COA) audit observation memoranda or AOM.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro (Screenshot from YouTube live)
A ranking House member has rejected Ombudsman Samuel Martires' proposal to not publish the Commission on Audit's (COA) audit observation memoranda (AOM).
"I think that the practice of publishing the audit observation memorandum by the Commission on Audit should continue," Deputy Minority leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said in a statement Tuesday, Sept. 12.
Castro said the publication of such findings "is just one of the very few ways that the public can check if their hard-earned money are being used properly and above board".
"It is like the publication of the SALN of government officials so that the public may know if these officials enriched themselves while in office," the Makabayan lawmaker said.
SALN stands for statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.
"The publication of the AOM and the SALN are mechanisms for transparecy and accountability for public officials doing away wih it, is like giving unscrupulous government officials carte blanche on the people's money," Castro said.
On Monday, the House Committee on Appropriations tackled the P5.05-billion proposed budget of the Office of the Ombudsman for 2024. Martires led the attending officials from the body, which serves as the top investigator and prosecutor in cases of graft and corruption in government.
The budget discussion was terminated or concluded the same day.