Online media clarify COA’s mandate amid Duterte complaints

CHEERS TO online media for reminding the public about the Commission on Audit’s (COA) role and mandate, and explaining why the President can’t order state auditors to stop reporting on problematic issues they find in the way government agencies use funds or report their expenses. 

On August 11, COA flagged “deficiencies” in the Department of Health’s (DOH) management of pandemic funds. “Various deficiencies involving some ₱67,323,186,570.57 worth of public funds and intended for national efforts of combating the unprecedented scale of the COVID-19 crisis were noted,” COA said in its report.

In his televised address on August 16, President Duterte defended Health Secretary Francisco Duque III while spewed expletives and insults against state auditors. “Stop that flagging, g**d*** it. You make a report. Do not flag and do not publish it because it will condemn the agency or the person that you are flagging,” Duterte said.

Instead of explaining his side, Duque resorted to an emotional outburst complaining about the loss of dignity that the report had caused him and the agency. In a hearing conducted by the House Committee on public accounts on August 17, Duque said he had been sleepless since the report was released and the consequent public scrutiny and condemnation. “Winarak na ninyo kami eh. Winarak na ninyo ang dangal ng DOH. Winarak ninyo ang lahat ng mga kasama ko dito.” (You destroyed us. You destroyed the honor of DOH. You destroyed all my colleagues here.

Media closely followed the exchange of statements, interviewing lawmakers, former state auditors, health workers, civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations for their comments. Media captured how senators slammed Duque for using the pandemic as an excuse to evade transparency. They also highlighted the plight of health workers and ordinary citizens during the crisis. Former COA Chief Heidi Mendoza also pointed out that “the audit process is a mechanism of accountability without which no nation can flourish.”

Three accounts by Rappler, InterAksyon, and ABS-CBN News stood out for providing more background on COA amid the President’s outburst.

Rappler’s Lian Buan talked to Jonathan Beltran of COA’s public information office who cited sections of the Constitution as “explicit and instructive.” Section 2(1) of the Constitution reads that COA has the power, authority and duty to examine and audit all accounts of government, while Section 2(2) says COA also has the exclusive authority to define the scope of the audit and examination. Buan then recalled previous comments by the president against state auditors, particularly in September 2018 and January 2019. 

InterAksyon also looked at COA’s role and mandate. Reporter Catalina Madarang noted that “the COA is an autonomous body and is not meant to be interfered with by a sitting president.” 

Similarly, an ABS-CBN News report highlighted the importance of the COA’s “flagging” — by recalling a landmark audit in 2012 which revealed the “scandalous misuse of Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF)… that resulted in the conviction of Napoles.” Reporter Jauhn Villaruel said: “Duterte’s order against COA is just rhetoric because no less than the 1987 Constitution makes sure that its “excessive” flagging “cannot simply be ignored.” 

The media play a vital role in publicizing the functions of the COA by calling public attention to the role of state auditors in ensuring the integrity of government spending.

According to Rappler, because COA does not have the prosecutorial powers, agencies can contest auditing notices for years. This makes it even more important for the media to publicize COA reports as well as to remind the public why COA must remain independent from other government powers. 

The president’s expression of anger against the COA was out of place and inappropriate, to say the least. This time, some journalists did not let it pass without the necessary and correct critical note.