Audit reports not attack vs. agencies, says ex-COA commissioner Heidi Mendoza

Negative findings in reports of the Commission on Audit (COA) are not attacks against concerned agencies, former COA commissioner Heidi Mendoza said Wednesday.

Mendoza issued the remark after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III’s emotional accusation that COA’s annual report, which found deficiencies in the agency’s use of coronavirus funds, destroyed their honor and morale.

"Sabi ko nga, tignan natin 'yung audit report as a vessel to correct those deficiencies and let's look at the auditors as our partners for development," she said in a forum.

"Naintindihan ko, sensitive siya kasi nga ang lakas ng pressure... but it's not the COA, di ba? Ang ano lang ng COA, they issue the audit report," she added.

Last week, COA flagged the Department of Health over several deficiencies in its utilization of P67.32 billion, which were mainly caused by non-compliance with laws, rules, and regulations.

The agency later clarified that it never mentioned any findings that the DOH funds were lost to corruption.

“Sana nandoon ‘yung tinatawag kong professional response… mechanism 'yung audit, eh. It’s a formal mechanism of accountability, so kung tinignan siya ng ganoon, mas napagusapan,” she said.

“Ang akin lang i-stress, kailangan nakipagtulungan doon sa mahabang taon. Kung merong hindi nasubmit pwede naman sabihin na ito muna ang isa-submit ko kasi ganito ganyan. It’s a matter of communicating,” she added.

She also observed that there was a time when the DOH was a model when it comes to good procurement practices.

“There was a time na model ‘yung DOH when it comes to best practices of procurement… and ang leader noon si Sec. Duque,” she said.

“Kung ikaw ay minsan lumutang, nakilala, dahil sa iyong best practices sa isang ahensya, meron din panahon na makita yung kahinaan ng ahensya, kailangan maging pantay ang pagtugon,” she added.

The sentiment was echoed by former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, who said the report allowed the public to express their thoughts on the situation.

Impartial attitude

Cabral also advised heads of agencies to respond to COA’s audit reports with an impartial attitude.

“Kung ikaw ay head of agency, kailangan harapin mo lahat ng ito with an impartial attitude at sagutin mo to the best of your ability kung alam mo na ikaw ay walang ginawa, miski na umabot pa ito sa Ombudsman, umabot pa ito sa Sandiganbayan, at umabot pa ito sa ibang mga korte,” she said.

The former secretary also urged the public to give the DOH time to respond. The agency was given 60 days to provide documents answering the deficiencies pointed out by COA.

“Sa isang banda, kailangan natin bigyan ng panahon ang Department of Health na sumagot dito sa audit report na ito… napakalaki ng pera na pinaguusapan natin,” she said.

Duque has said that the questioned transfer of funds to partner agencies have memorandum of agreements and other documents.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Duque to respond to the findings, even as he refused the Health Secretary’s resignation anew.—LDF, GMA News