PRRD wants to discuss gov’t spending rules with Ombudsman, COA

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte skims through some documents while presiding over the 32nd Cabinet Meeting at the Malacañan Palace on December 12, 2018. SIMEON CELI JR./PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he wants to meet with the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) and Commission on Audit (COA) to discuss a proposal to craft simplified auditing rules to attain effective and efficient delivery of public services.

“I’d like to sit with the Executive Secretary (Salvador Medialdea) and maybe invite some guys from the Ombudsman and itong (this) auditing office. And let’s agree on certain procedures,” Duterte said in his speech during the first anniversary of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) in Malacañang on Wednesday night.

Duterte noticed that throughout his long experience as mayor of Davao city, stricter regulations tend to waste time and money of government offices.

“I do not really see the rationale of these requirements. But some stupid enterprising guys would just come up and to make money,” he said.

The President lamented that a lot of government officials face charges for the violation of auditing rules.

“Marami kasing nasasabit diyan sa ‘yung ganun (A lot of government officials face charges because of that auditing rules),” he said.

Duterte said he would disapprove the application of stiff auditing protocols, which could only cause delay in implementing government projects.

“It could not really be corruption but it could be shortsightedness or plain, I will not follow that because that is stupid,” he said.

Duterte said it was not his intention to insult the COA auditors during his previous rant against the auditing process in the country.

“I do not want to insult them. I have healthy respect for (COA chief Michael) Aguinaldo. Eh kaya sabi ko (That is why I said) let’s simplify matters,” Duterte said.

“Before the end of the year I will just suggest and if it is accepted by all fine, if not then gusto kong isali ‘yung Congress (I want to involve Congress),” he added.

Duterte said the simplified auditing rules would be possible before the end of the year.