COA clarification doesn’t mean Duque now ‘off the hook’, says Drilon

FILE PHOTO: Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (left) and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon. INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is not yet “off the hook” even as the Commission on Audit (COA) clarified that its report on the deficiencies found in the agency’s use of pandemic funds is not conclusive of corruption, Senate Minority Franklin Drilon said Monday.

“The COA said that the audit findings are not conclusive of corruption, but that does not take Sec. Duque off the hook. The COA findings clearly show the dismal inefficiencies and lack of sense of urgency, demonstrating poor management and leadership,” Drilon said in an interview on CNN Philippines Monday.

This comes as the Senate blue ribbon committee is poised to open an investigation into the Department of Health’s (DOH) management of COVID-19 funds in 2020.

In its report, state auditors found deficiencies on how the DOH handled pandemic funds worth at least P67 billion, adding that it contributed to the country’s challenges during the health crisis.

READ: Senate, House mount separate inquiries into DOH use of COVID-19 funds

Drilon pointed out that the COA explicitly called on DOH to “act with urgency and efficiency in the utilization of COVID-19 funds.”

“This latest COA findings only affirmed the fact there appears to be no sense of urgency on the part of DOH and Sec. Duque,” Drilon said.

READ: COA finds deficiencies on how DOH manages P67.32-B COVID funds 

“Today, we are seeing a very critical situation. We have a healthcare system that is very fragile. Our health system is already on the verge of collapsing. I hope it does not collapse but the signs are there,” he added.

Drilon was specifically alarmed by DOH’s supposed failure to immediately release the special risk allowance of healthcare workers.

READ: Probe of DOH over unpaid health workers’ benefits pushed

“This is an example of gross negligence. It’s infuriating that our frontliners have not received what the Congress appropriated for them. There is a budget; the money has been released to DOH. It clearly shows that there is mismanagement. This goes into the management ability of the DOH insofar as the management of pandemic is concerned,” the senator said.

In a separate statement, Drilon also questioned the billions of money transferred to procurement agencies such as the DBM’s Procurement Service.

“To me, the transfer of P42 billion to procurement and implementing partner agencies without documentation is the most concerning item as it comprises the biggest chunk of the mismanaged P67 billion for COVID 19 programs,” he said.

“This should raise red flags as these are unaccounted or unliquidated transfers,” said Drilon, adding that the COA said “these were not supported with complete documentary requirements contrary to law and regulations, and casted doubts on the validity, regularity and propriety of transactions.”

The COA also warned that the delays in the delivery of the much-needed medical equipment, supplies or devices resulted in delays in the provision of quality health service, Drilon noted.

“Who are these partner-agencies? For what specific purpose/s? How much of the P42 billion was obligated?” he asked.

Drilon said that with the huge fund transfer to procurement agencies, it is “highly possible” that the unobligated funds can be bigger than the P24.6 billion as cited by COA.

Unless it has been shown that the funds transferred were obligated, Drilon said the funds should be reverted to the national treasury.

Drilon said the Senate will look into Duque’s possible liabilities in the management of the said funds.

But the minority leader added that nothing can compel President Rodrigo Duterte to dismiss Duque amid the COA findings.

Duque has repeatedly faced calls to resign over the course of the pandemic but Duterte continues to trust his appointed health chief.

READ: DOH dodges string of controversies under Duterte

“These are decisions that a political leader would have to answer when election time comes. But you cannot compel the President to dismiss a cabinet member, notwithstanding the call of everyone, because that is the nature of our system,” Drilon continued.

Last year, the Senate passed a resolution calling for the resignation of Duque for his “failure of leadership, negligence and inefficiency in performance.”

READ: 14 senators want Duque out

The DOH earlier said it is was addressing the deficiencies marked by COA.

It also maintained that it has exerted efforts to effectively implement provisions of the two Bayanihan laws, “more particularly those health responses in this time of a state of calamity or national emergency amidst varying challenges.”

Reacting to COA’s findings, Duque assured all transactions of the DOH are accounted for and documented, pointing out that, otherwise, officials and employees would go to jail.

KGA