FILE PHOTO: Senator Manny Pacquiao. Cesar Tomambo/Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Desiring to make corrupt people in government accountable, Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday recognized the Commission on Audit (COA) for dutifully carrying out its mandate to scrutinize government agencies’ spending and protect the people’s money.
Pacquiao, who was in the United States preparing for his boxing bout against Cuban Yordenis Ugás on August 22, said in a statement that holding government officials and employees liable for their dishonesty in service means giving justice to the Filipino people since it is they who suffer the most due to corruption.
“Ako at ang taumbayan ay sumasaludo sa Commission on Audit dahil sa kanilang dedikasyon at pagtupad sa sinumpaang tungkulin na ihayag ang anumang posibleng katiwalian sa mga ahensyang na-red flag nila,” the Senator said in a statement.
(The Filipino people and I salute the Commission on Audit for their dedication to fulfilling their sworn duty to expose any possible irregularity in the agencies they have red-flagged.)
“Nais ko na managot at makulong ang mga kawatan sa gobyerno para mabigyan ng hustisya ang sambayanang Pilipino na pinahihirapan ng korapsyon,” he added.
(It is my wish that corrupt people in government will be made accountable and sent to jail so that the Filipino people will be given justice as they are the ones suffering due to corruption.)
Since last week, audit reports and observations of COA were made public, revealing possible problems in the way taxpayer’s money was spent or managed by different government agencies.
Among its reports was on the 2020 pandemic response budget of the Department of Health (DOH) wherein it found “deficiencies” amounting to at least P67 billion. These deficiencies, it noted, were caused by non-compliance with pertinent laws and regulations. It added that these deficiencies led to missed opportunities for the DOH which is primarily tasked with managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
COA’s report also offered recommendations to DOH so it can rectify the issues.
Prior to COA’s report and before leaving the country for the US, Pacquiao launched an anti-corruption drive after being dared by President Rodrigo Duterte to name which government agency is corrupt. This came after the world-famous boxer-turned-legislator pronounced that corruption in government remains under Duterte.
According to Pacquiao, there were anomalies in the social amelioration program (SAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The SAP or giving of cash aid was part of the government’s response to the public health crisis which crippled businesses and left thousands jobless.
He said around P10.4 billion of the SAP went missing even if the payouts have been labeled finished or completed or claimed.
READ: Pacquiao says lockdown ‘ayuda’ marred by corruption
READ: DSWD ready to face probe, clarify Pacquiao’s corruption claims
On Wednesday, Pacquiao called on the people to join him in his fight to expose corruption in government agencies.
“Muli akong nananawagan sa bawat pilipino na samahan nyo ako sa laban na’to na ibunyag ang anumang korapsyon sa mga ahensiya ng gobyerno,” he said.
(Once again, I am urging each and every Filipino to join me in this fight to uncover whatever corruption in government agencies.)
COA’s report on the DOH’s pandemic budget has drawn criticism from the administration, that even Duterte unleashed harsh remarks against it. For both Duterte and DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III, the COA report misled people into thinking that the health agency is corrupt.
READ: Duque admits ‘losing sleep’, ‘bloodied and bludgeoned’ over COA report on pandemic fund
But COA Chairperson Michael Aguinaldo stressed that their reports are, as a matter of usual practice, uploaded on their website in accordance with existing laws.