PRRD’s handling of crisis can be assessed thru report to Congress

MANILA – Malacañang on Thursday rejected Senator Risa Hontiveros’ call to audit the funds and special powers granted to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to address the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) outbreak in the country.

Duterte’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis can be assessed through his weekly report to Congress, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a virtual press conference aired on state-run PTV-4.

“Kinakailangan nga siguro, basahin ni Senator Risa Hontiveros yung weekly report ng Pangulo sa Kongreso kada linggo (Perhaps, Senator Risa Hontiveros needs to read the weekly report submitted by the President to Congress every week),” Roque said.

Republic Act (RA) 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act allows Duterte to use emergency powers and spend PHP275 billion as an emergency fund to stop the Covid-19 outbreak.

On Wednesday, Hontiveros claimed that Duterte’s administration has failed to meet its health and economic relief targets to fight Covid-19 despite the passage of RA 11469.

Hontiveros also cited the massive backlogs, slow contact tracing efforts, and delays in the release of test results to persons under quarantine or monitoring.

She said the audit of Covid-19 funds and the use of Duterte’s special powers would assess the “success or lack” of the government’s response efforts.

Roque, however, said, “Hindi na po kinakailangan iyan dahil meron na nga pong weekly report at meron din po tayong COA post-audit (It is no longer needed because we already have the weekly report and the post-audit of the Commission on Audit).”

Duterte can no longer wield his special powers once RA 11469 expires three months after its passage on March 23.

Malacañang and lawmakers have sought to extend Duterte’s emergency powers for another three months or until September to allow his administration to address the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Congress, however, is expected to adjourn sine die on June 5 and resume session when Duterte delivers his 5th State of the Nation Address on July 26.

Roque expressed optimism that lawmakers would approve a measure extending Duterte’s temporary special powers before June 5.

Senators and congressmen, he said, might no longer need to hold a special session since they committed to passing a measure that would extend Duterte’s emergency powers before they go on mandatory recess.

”Meron naman pong assurance ang ating mga senador at kongresista na maa-approve nila itong batas na ito bago po sila mag-adjourn. So tingnan po natin (There’s an assurance from our senators and congressmen that they will approve this proposed measure before they adjourn. So let’s see),” Roque said.