President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday (Sept. 20) said he was not attacking but was merely asking for transparency from Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC) chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), Sen. Richard Gordon.
“Again, we are not attacking the Philippine Red Cross. We would just like to know if the resources that the government has given to it is well managed. We are only asking for the same transparency from PRC,” Duterte said during his public address.
“On this note, I have already instructed the Solicitor General to write to Commission on Audit (COA) Chairman Michael Aguinaldo to conduct an audit on the finances of the Philippine Red Cross,” the President added.
Duterte said that his legal basis for asking for the audit of the PRC was the Constitution and Republic Act No. 172 or the Philippine Red Cross Act.
“Alam mo kailangan ko ipa-imbestiga ang Red Cross for a host of reasons. Pero una niyan pera. Sabi ko nga, I want to know if ‘yung Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) mo ibinigay mo doon sa Red Cross,” Duterte said.
“In-indicate mo so that ‘pag na commingle na ‘yan sa funds, there can never be an audit in your theory kasi hindi puwedeng mag-audit ang COA sa Red Cross. I disagree with you as a lawyer and I am pointing out to you the Constitution and the Republic Act, and I dare say that you are wrong. This is the same law that requires the PRC to submit to the Office of the President of the Philippines its annual financial report,” he added.
Duterte then asked Gordon where the yearly financial report was.
“So I ask again, where is this report? In all my years as President, I have not seen even the shadow of that law-mandated report. That is actually an omission. That is something which you failed to do,” he said.
“At huwag mong sabihin wala kang responsibilidad diyan. If it is required by law and you failed to do it and there’s malice because you wanted to hide your crimes, paano mo ginastos, paano mo siniphon ‘yung pera sa Red Cross, then it becomes a case of anti-graft,” he added. – PG – bny
