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Ombudsman wants COA to complete DOH audit before taking action
The Office of the Ombudsman will defer action on alleged deficiencies in the Department of Health's (DOH) utilization of its 2020 pandemic response budget until the Commission on Audit's (COA) review process is finalized.
COA's report indicated that P67.32 billion of the flagged funds were primarily due to the DOH's non-compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
The state auditors issued an adverse opinion on the DOH's financial statements, stating they did not fairly present the agency's financial position.
Ombudsman Samuel Martires stated that the Ombudsman's office will wait for the completion of the auditing process, allowing the DOH the opportunity to implement audit recommendations.
Martires cited the need to avoid withdrawing cases based on preliminary audit findings, referencing the Echiverri cases in 2018.
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Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales urged the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate the Department of Health's (DOH) audit report revealing P67 billion in deficiently used pandemic funds.
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State auditors identified deficiencies amounting to P67.32 billion in the Department of Health's (DOH) COVID-19 funds for 2020.
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President Rodrigo Duterte defended the Department of Health (DOH) over allegations of corruption concerning P67.3 billion in COVID-19 response funds.
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The Makabayan bloc has filed House Resolution 2129 to investigate the Department of Health's (DOH) alleged "grave inefficiency," "gross incompetence," and "criminal negligence" in managing P67.32 billion in COVID-19 funds.
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State auditors from the Commission on Audit (COA) will brief the House of Representatives on Tuesday, August 17, regarding deficiencies found in the Department of Health's (DOH) utilization of P67.32 billion in COVID-19 funds.
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