Ombudsman wants COA to complete DOH audit before taking action

The Office of the Ombudsman will wait for the completion of the Commission on Audit's auditing process on the Department of Health's budget in 2020 before acting on the alleged deficiencies in its use of COVID-19 funds.

Ombudsman Samuel Martires made the remark after the COA's 2020 Annual Audit Report (AAR) mentioned red flags in the use of DOH's P67.32 billion in funds for enforcement of pandemic response.

COA cited that the health department had deficiencies in its utilization due to non-compliance with laws, rules, and regulations.

"To await the finalization and completion of the auditing process avoids a repeat of having to withdraw cases already filed in court based on preliminary audit findings similar to the events that transpired in the Echiverri cases in 2018," Martires said in a statement.

The Supreme Court's Second Division in 2018 dismissed a petition by the Office of the Ombudsman that faulted Sandiganbayan for granting former Caloocan Mayor Recom Echiverri's demurrer to evidence, leading to his acquittal for one of more than 40 cases.

"The Office of the Ombudsman will await the completion of the auditing process as the agency is given the opportunity to ensure full implementation of all audit recommendations to improve the financial and operational efficiency of the DOH,"  Martires said.

"Following this, should there be non-compliance or disagreement in the implementation of the recommendations and observations of the auditors, the matter may still be elevated to the COA en banc which has the final say on the matter," he added.

After COA divulged its findings against the controversial health department, opposition lawmakers urged Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to resign amid the alleged irregularities. —NB, GMA News