Palace inclined to place Heidi Mendoza in CoA, says spokesman

MANILA, Philippines—The government could use whistle-blower Heidi Mendoza’s expertise and integrity as head of the Commission on Audit, Malacañang indicated on Wednesday afternoon.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, however, said the matter of which government post to offer Mendoza has not been firmed up by the administration.

“I think we can use her competence in the Commission on Audit. In our government, we have many concerns that needs an auditor with integrity,” Lacierda said during the day’s news briefing in Malacañang.

“And we are expecting that with a new leadership in the Commission on Audit, we can put in order our auditing processes and practices in the government,” he added.

Lacierda said the government would look into Mendoza’s preference to return to the COA as its head. He said he would discuss the matter with President Aquino after the chief executive’s return to the country from his state visits to Indonesia and Singapore.

It was Mendoza, in her capacity as a government auditor that provided the government with the audit reports that served as the basis for the plunder charges against retired Major General Carlos Garcia.

She testified in congressional hearings to belie the Ombudsman prosecutors’ allegations that the government had a weak case against Garcia and should therefore strike the plea bargain agreement with the former Armed Forces comptroller to recover some of the ill-gotten wealth.