Palace on Duterte's 2017 quip about stealing: It was a joke

Malacañang on Friday said President Rodrigo Duterte was only joking when he said in a June 2017 speech that he had stolen from public funds.

"I think it was a joke," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing. "Hindi siya tatagal kung siya ay corrupt [The President wouldn't be around for so long if he is corrupt]."

The President's 2017 speech went, "Marami rin akong ninakaw pero naubos na [I have also stolen but they all have been used up]. Corruption is really out during my term."

Senator Richard Gordon, who has been clashing with Duterte, has repeatedly used the remark against the President. He mentioned it again on Thursday, days after Duterte said he wouldn't have been elected president if he was corrupt.

Roque defended Duterte and dismissed Gordon, saying the President has not once received a notice of disallowance from the Commission on Audit during his 40-year political career.

"COA never issued a notice of disallowance, unlike in the case of Senator Gordon," Roque said.

As chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee, Gordon is leading an investigation into alleged questionable procurement contracts entered into by the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service with private firms last year.

The probe has dragged the names of at least two former officials linked to Duterte: Michael Yang, a Chinese businessman and former presidential economic adviser, and Lloyed Christopher Lao, former PS-DBM chief.

Duterte, who has lambasted the Senate investigation, has ordered the Office of the Solicitor General to request COA to collect P140 million in government funds from Gordon stemming from the senator's time as chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

According to Duterte, the state auditors issued P140 million worth of notice of disallowance to SBMA during Gordon's tenure. 

Gordon, for his part, said he is ready to face any investigation regarding SBMA's funds. —KBK, GMA News