Duterte to SolGen Calida: Instruct COA to audit Gordon-led PH Red Cross

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has directed Solicitor General Jose Calida to instruct the Commission on Audit (COA) to check the financial records of the Philippine Red Cross, where Senator Richard Gordon serves as chairman.

In a taped public address aired on Thursday morning, Duterte once again lambasted Gordon, whose Senate blue ribbon committee is conducting a probe on the government’s purchase of alleged overpriced medical supplies last year.

He accused Gordon of being among corrupt senators.

“Ang mga senador is mayroon [corruption] ‘yan. Gordon is one. I am ordering the Solicitor General, si Calida, to write COA chief [Mike] Aguinaldo a letter and ask Aguinaldo to conduct immediately an audit diyan sa Red Cross na ‘yan,” he said.

(The senators are on the take. Gordon is one. I am ordering Solicitor General Calida to write COA chief [Mike] Aguinaldo a letter and ask Aguinaldo to conduct immediately an audit on Red Cross.)

The President earlier accused Gordon of using Red Cross funds for his previous election campaigns, which is why he called for an audit on the humanitarian non-government organization (NGO).

READ: Duterte wants COA to audit Gordon-led Philippine Red Cross

“Ginamit mo ito sa elections. Ito ‘yung milking cow mo eh,” he said in a public address on September 2.

(You used it for the elections. This is your milking cow.)

Malacañang has insisted that COA has jurisdiction over the Philippine Red Cross and can examine its financial records even if it is an NGO.

KGA