Panelo: Gov't can go to court if Philippine Red Cross withholds financial reports

Presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo said Sunday that the Duterte administration could ask the court to compel the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to submit the required financial reports.

Panelo's remark came after Palace spokesman Harry Roque cited PRC's failure to submit its financial status to President Rodrigo Duterte as an honorary president of the humanitarian organization.

"For one, kung hindi kusa magbigay ng report (if they can't voluntarily give the report), we can go to court to compel them to comply with what the law asks them to do," Panelo said over Dobol B TV.

"Kapag hindi pa rin sila gumawa niyan, mayroon silang liability. Kung five years sila hindi nagsusumite, mayroon silang violation" (If they fail to submit, they have liability. If it has been five years of failing to comply, they have a violation), Panelo added.

GMA News Online has contacted PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon for comment but has yet to receive a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte had threatened to stop all government transactions with the Red Cross as the Senate was doing an inquiry into the alleged overpricing of medical supplies the Department of Health purchased in 2020 for COVID-19 response.

Gordon leads the Senate blue ribbon committee probe into the alleged overpricing.

Earlier, Duterte said he wanted the Commission on Audit to conduct an audit on the finances of the PRC, a non-government humanitarian organization.

However, COA said that it has no jurisdiction over the PRC.

In response to Duterte's threat to stop all government transactions with PRC, Gordon said, "It's up to the President." —LBG/KG, GMA News