Hontiveros insists on Bayanihan law audit, says it can be done in special session

Published June 09, 2020 02:09 PM By DONA MAGSINO,GMA News

The audit of the implementation of the now expired Bayanihan to Heal as One Act may be conducted if a special session will be called by President Rodrigo Duterte even when Congress is adjourned sine die, according to Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday.

"The audit could actually commence anytime now during the adjournment. We did say last week that we are open to being called by the President to a special session para matapos namin 'yung relief bill, 'yung Bayanihan 2 and kasabay niyang special session na iyan, if ever it happens, dapat gagawin namin 'yung audit," Hontiveros said in an interview on ANC.

"Hindi puwedeng umasa lang kami sa weekly reports ng Presidente sa Kongreso noon. Parang ikaw na ang gumawa ng test, ikaw ang sumagot, ikaw magche-check, ikaw magba-validate?" she added.

Last week, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque assured that the government’s expenses for COVID-19 response will go through scrutiny by the Commission on Audit.

He also advised Hontiveros to read the weekly reports of the President regarding the implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

An opposition senator, Hontiveros said the government is accountable to the public

for use of taxpayers' money and should ensure judicious spending for COVID-19 efforts.

She said among those that should further be looked into is the allegation on overpricing of personal protective equipment, test kits, and other testing equipment which were questioned before by other fellow senators.

"When you think about how these things happened, baka 'yung mga masyadong mahal na PPEs, etc. ay only the tip of the iceberg. Baka there might be even more for us to audit," Hontiveros said.

The Bayanihan law, passed in a marathon session in March, was automatically repealed on Friday when the first regular session of the Congress entered the sine die adjournment.

The proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or the Bayanihan Law 2, featuring a P140-billion appropriation for economic recovery efforts, was left untouched after the Palace decided not to certify it as urgent. --KBK, GMA News

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