Akbayan lauds COA’s “truth heroes,” calls for Duque to resign

Leaders and members of Akbayan Partylist on Friday trooped to the office of the Commission on Audit (COA) and paid tribute to the dedication and heroism of its employees in safeguarding the nation’s coffers. 

Led by its first nominee Perci Cendana, Akbayan handed over flowers and a “letter of solidarity” to COA staff as a show of support, and to celebrate the life of Atty. Jake Cimafranca, who worked on the recent Department of Health (DOH) audit report. 

This comes amid the verbal attacks from President Rodrigo Duterte against COA after it released a report flagging the Department of Health (DOH) for anomalies surrounding the management of P 67 billion worth of COVID-19 funds. 

“The leadership and staff of the COA deserve the people’s support, especially in these times. They have protected our national interests and the nation’s coffers for years. They are our modern-day truth-tellers and heroes, ensuring that public funds are never wasted and that any deficiencies are held to account,” Akbayan First Nominee Perci Cendana said. 

“Sa mga bayani ng COA, tuloy lang ang trabaho at paglilingkod. Warakin natin ang korapsyon sa gobyerno at huwag patulugin ang mga magnanakaw at abusado,” Cendana stressed. 
“Threat to public funds, health and lives” 
Akbayan also called for the resignation of Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque, saying that his continued stay at the DOH is “a dangerous threat to taxpayer’s money, public health, and lives.” 
Cendana said that the COA’s 2020 report is not the first time Duque has been called to task. From 2001 to the present, he has held several key posts in the health sector. Duque Served as Philhealth President from 2001 until 2005. He then served his first stint as Secretary of Health from 2005 until 2008. After that Duque sat on PhilHealth’s Board as Head of the Civil Service Commission (CSC). He began a second term as Secretary of Health in 2017.  Throughout that entire span of time, Duque has been flagged by the COA no less than six times – in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2018 — for excessive administrative expenses and other financial violations amounting to P 7.043 billion. 

“Frequent redflag” 
“Kung may frequent flyer, si Secretary Duque naman ay frequent redflag ng auditors. Suki ng mga COA reports. If he stays on, public funds will continue to be threatened with misuse and suspicion, which blocks vital funding for critical, life-saving programs, and aid for people. 
“Nakadalawang term na bilang health secretary, naging Presidente pa ng PhilHealth, pero tuloy pa rin ang anomalya. By every professional standard, Secretary Duque has to go. It’s time to end the Duque nightmare. Patulugin naman niya ng payapa ang mamamayang Pilipino,” Cendana said