‘Expenses for Duterte foreign trips up to COA scrutiny’

MANILA, Philippines - Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno yesterday called on Sen. Grace Poe to allow the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into the government expenses on President Duterte’s trips abroad.

Diokno made the statement after Poe criticized the huge delegation composed of Cabinet officials and businessmen who joined Duterte in his recent visit to Russia.

The budget chief said applying the safeguards in spending taxpayers’ money are given to the COA. 

“It is the COA that determines if the expenses of delegations for the President's trip abroad are excessive or not. I just release the funds,” Diokno said at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.

“The President determines who are in his official party. We cannot dictate on him,” he added.

Poe on Monday noted that high-level officials, including Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon were with the President in Moscow when the Maute group attacked Marawi City on May 23.

 She noted that only Diokno was left as the Palace caretaker.

The Marawi siege prompted Duterte to cut short his Russia visit and declare martial law in the south.