Duterte asks COA for flexibility in audit compliance

President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the Commission on Audit (COA) for flexibility in complying with audit recommendations, citing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duterte's plea follows COA's findings of deficiencies in the Department of Health's (DOH) utilization of P67.32 billion for pandemic response.

He argued that pre-pandemic compliance standards are unsuitable for the current crisis and that the government needs "elbow room."

Duterte previously dismissed claims that the P67.3 billion was stolen, attributing some deficiencies to incomplete paperwork for large projects.

He also urged COA to stop publishing audit reports, stating that such flagging creates a perception of corruption before due process.

In response, a COA official questioned when would be the appropriate time to audit pandemic funds if not now.

Regarding Duterte's threat to audit COA himself, an official stated that the constitutional body already audits itself, and its audit teams are independent.