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Duterte: Let’s kidnap, torture COA personnel


President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday apparently joked about kidnapping and torturing Commission on Audit (COA) personnel as he criticized the agency anew over its accountability rules on the spending of government funds. 

Duterte made the statement before 4,000 local officials in Metro Manila that gathered for the Barangay Summit on Peace and Order in Pasay City.

“Putangina 'yang COA na 'yan. Leche. Kasi 'yung COA, every time, may mali talaga. Ano ba itong COA na ito? Mag-kidnap tayo ng taga-COA, lagay natin dito, i-torture natin dito. T___ina," he said.

"Sino ba gusto makulong ng ano? Puro 'yan pahirapan. 'Yan ang ayaw ko ang pahirapan. You resolve the meaning of the words in favor of its implementation. Huwag ka sige maglagay d'yan ng hadlang," he said.

Duterte earlier drew flak for advising local officials to ignore regulations on government spending and joking about pushing COA employees down the stairs.

A lawyer by profession, the President had questioned how government officials and employees can be convicted in court for violation of COA circulars which for him do not have the force and effect of laws.

Duterte said he is willing to take responsibility should COA flag local government transactions in providing humanitarian assistance to the people hit by calamities, especially in the wake of Typhoon Ompong that lashed Luzon provinces in September last year.

Malacañang, meanwhile, said Duterte only expressed his concern on spending limitations with regard to the delivery of humanitarian assistance in times of crisis. — BM, GMA News

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