Philippine Red Cross: Donations 'faithfully accounted for'

The Philippine Red Cross said Sunday that the use of donations has been "faithfully accounted for" and that there was no "adverse finding" on any transactions using government funds.

The PRC made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to stop all government transactions with the organization if it refuses to undergo  state audit.

"The Philippine Red Cross has faithfully accounted for the use of such funds in compliance with the donor agencies' liquidation and reportorial requirements. These government agencies, in turn, are subject to annual audit by the Commission on Audit (COA)," it said in a statement.

"To date, there has not been any adverse finding on any transactions whereby government funds were given to the Philippine Red Cross," it added.

Likewise, it said its records of donations may be obtained by the Office of the President directly from government agencies, while audits on government agencies, if any, may be acquired from COA.

Duterte has continued his tirades on PRC chairman Senator Richard Gordon, who leads the Senate inquiry into the alleged overpriced procurement of pandemic-related medical supplies.

Duterte insisted that COA can audit the funds that the government has given to the PRC.

Earlier, Chairman Michael Aguinaldo said that COA has no jurisdiction over PRC.

On the other hand, PRC governors have said that the organization does not receive appropriations from the government and it only gets donations from private individuals, corporations, and partner international Red Cross, and Red Crescent societies. —LBG, GMA News