Palace orders Duque: Explain spending 'deficiencies' in P67-B COVID-19 response fund

Malacañang said Thursday that President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to respond to the state auditor's findings on spending "deficiencies" in the P67-billion COVID-19 response fund.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque cited the Commission on Audit's annual report showing that the deficiencies were mainly due to non-compliance with laws, rules, and regulations in the transfer of funds.

Based on the COA report, P42.41 billion was transferred to procurement or implementing partner agencies without a memorandum of agreement and other supporting documents.

“The President’s instructions is for them to answer COA’s observation. There are no sacred cows in this administration,” Roque said.

“Hindi po natin minamaliit ang obserbasyon ng COA. Napakabigat po niyan. Inaasahan po natin ang kumprehensibo at malinaw na kasagutan mula kay Secretary Duque [We don’t take the observation lightly. The finding is heavy. We expect a comprehensive and clear answer from Secretary Duque],” Roque added.

Like any other agency, the DOH will be given a “reasonable chance” to comply with or abide by the COA's recommendations, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a message to reporters.

“In case of unjustified failure to comply or render an acceptable explanation, however, responsible officials of the agency may be held liable not only for infractions of accounting and auditing rules and regulations but also for more serious violations of law, such as for breach of anti-graft and government procurement laws, in which case the TFAC (Task Force Against Corruption) will step in,” he added.

Roque said that the President will never hesitate to take action against corrupt practices.

“Given evidence, the President will take appropriate action. He has proven this in the past and will continue to do so until his last day in office,” he said.

'I have served well'

The state auditor's flagging Duque over deficiencies in the use of P67.32-billion COVID-19 response funds, rekindled calls for him to step down.

Some Members of the Makabayan bloc have called for his resignation.

In a press statement, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat said Duque should step down from his post amid the supposed corruption within the agency and for blatant negligence of duty.

Last year, some senators had called for Duque's resignation for leadership failure.

Amid renewed calls for him to resign, Duque on Thursday said his track record would show his good service in the government.

In an interview with GMA News Online, he said: "Alam mo ang nag-appoint sa akin si Pangulong Duterte, inanyayahan niya ako andoon ako sa aking lalawigan, nanahimik at inanyayahan ako na tumulong sa kanyang administrasyon."

[President Duterte was the one who appointed me. I was in the comfort of my home province when he asked me if I could serve under his administration.]

"'Yung track record ko eh huwag naman sanang kalimutan, nanilbihan naman tayo nang maayos" [I hope my track record will be remembered. I have served well]," he added. — with Virgil Lopez/LBG/BM/GMA News