President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to stop all government transactions with the Philippine Red Cross as he continued to slam its chairman Senator Richard Gordon for leading the investigation into the alleged overpriced procurement of pandemic-related medical goods.
In a taped briefing aired Saturday morning, Duterte has slammed Gordon and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon over their participation in the Senate inquiry.
“Ito naman si Gordon, malalim itong away namin. Talagang mag-away kami ng buang na ‘to,” Duterte said.
(This Gordon, our conflict has deep roots. We will really go head-to-head with this fool.)
He asserted that the Commission on Audit can audit the funds that the government has given to the PRC.
“In the coming days, I will write you a letter to open up your records because… I will also request [COA chairman] Michael Aguinaldo, and I’m sure he know his business that there is money in Red Cross belonging to the government which he should look into,” Duterte said.
“Ngayon kung ayaw mo, mapipilitan akong (Now if you don’t want, I will be forced to) totally disassociate with you. I will stop the national government from having transactions with you in any manner. Wala akong pakialam (I don’t care). ‘Di ako nagbigay ng pera sa’yo (I will not give you money) and as far as I’m concerned, Red Cross does not exist. You can create a controversy there or a crisis. I do not mind because I said I’m on the right track. Either you submit the auditing procedure or we quarrel,” the President said.
Aguinaldo earlier said that the COA has no jurisdiction over PRC.
The PRC governors also said last week that the humanitarian organization does not receive appropriations from the government and it only receives donations from private individuals, corporations, and partner international Red Cross and Red Crescent societies.
Thus, the funds they handle are not subject to COA’s liquidation, the PRC said.
It noted that some government agencies, such as the Department of Health, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, had donated to the PRC but these are “small part” of PRC funds and these were properly liquidated.
GMA News Online has sought Gordon’s comment on Duterte’s remarks but he has yet to respond as of posting time. —KG, GMA News
Duterte threatens to stop all gov t transactions with Philippine Red Cross
Source: Pinoy Hub News
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