Palace defends Duterte tirades vs. COA

Malacañang on Monday defended President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks assailing the Commission on Audit's supposed prohibition on government spending on some items during disasters.

Over the weekend, Duterte called on local officials to defy "stupid" COA circulars, even going as far as telling that a COA employee should be pushed down the stairs.

He also said that COA has not contributed to national development and that its circulars that cover government transactions are meaningless unless they are passed into law.

The President made the statement after Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos claimed, at a post-Typhoon Ompong briefing in the province, that COA does not allow cash advances for the purchase of building materials such as GI sheets.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said Duterte only expressed his concern on spending limitations with regard to the delivery of humanitarian assistance in times of crisis.

"Ang sinasabi ng Presidente, considering post-audit naman ang COA, hayaan na munang ibigay ang pangangailangan ng taumbayan saka na muna addressin 'yang napakaraming requirements ng COA," Roque said at a news conference in Benguet.

"Ang importante ngayon wala dapat bureaucratic red tape sa pag release ng tulong ng bayan. At sabi ni Presidente kung merong nilalabag na COA circular dyan so be it. The buck stops with him but he will and he is enjoining and calling all government offices to give people what they need. Siya na ang mananagot sa COA kung merong pananagutan."

Ilocos Norte has already been placed under state of calamity to allow the provincial government to tap funds for rehabilitation efforts. — Virgil Lopez/RSJ, GMA News