President Duterte has cautioned the Commission on Audit against meddling and putting “malice” in the programs initiated by mayors that benefit their constituents.
The President said that unlike CoA auditors, mayors have been given the mandate by voters to choose and implement programs beneficial to the people.
“Do not do the program for us. You were not elected by the people,” Duterte said during the assembly of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines at the historic landmark Manila Hotel Tuesday.
“We should be the one choosing what programs of government that would be beneficial to the people. Do not do it for us. Kasi mas ma-runong pa kayo, ‘di kayo na lang ang mag-mayor,” he added.
He recalled that the audit agency questioned his mass wedding project for poor couples when he served as mayor of Davao City.
Duterte said CoA issued a notice of disallowance on the funding of “Kasalan ng Bayan” which he initiated since 1988. He remembered that he confronted the CoA official and threatened to throw him somewhere.
“Akalain mo ba ang CoA in my last 23 years doon pa nalabas na dinisallow. Eh ‘di bilyon ang utang ko sa gobyerno,” Duterte said.
Duterte justified that his mass wedding project was aimed to help couples who have children born out of wedlock. He told the audit agency that it is their job to ensure the public funds go to the intended beneficiaries.
(Genalyn D. Kabiling)
