DAVAO CITY (March 9) – –– President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, said he wants to sit down with the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) and Commission on Audit (COA) to discuss the possible crafting of a procedure to attain effective and efficient delivery of public services.
“Maybe if I have time…I am so busy…I’d like to sit with the Executive Secretary and maybe invite some guys from the Ombudsman and itong auditing office. And let’s agree on certain procedures,” President Duterte said during the first anniversary celebration of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) in Malacañang.
Duterte felt sorry for government officials who were facing charges for the violation of auditing rules, saying some of them might not be fully aware of the law.
Duterte said he would disapprove the application of stiff auditing protocols, which could only cause a delay in implementing government’s projects.
“It could not really be corruption but it could be a short-sightedness or plain…I will not follow that because that is stupid,” he said.
“Lahat ng mga auditors natin medyo may katok. They are lost in a maze of so many requirements…some are really stupid,” he added.
“Ganun eh.. regulation then you are hailed to the Sandiganbayan for gross violation of regulations. You know, you are not Congress. It is only Congress who can mete out imprisonments by law,” he continued.
Despite his explicit criticisms over COA, President Duterte, however, clarified that he has “healthy respect” for COA Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo.
The President’s plan to simplify the auditing procedures of COA, as he said, would be possible before the end of the year.-Editha Z. Caduaya/NewsLine.ph
