Duterte wants ombudsman, Commission on Audit procedures simplified

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte wants to meet with officials of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit (COA) to discuss ways to simplify government procedures and prevent corruption. 

He said the auditing procedures of the two agencies should be simplified to ensure the timely delivery of services. 

“Maybe if I have time, I am so busy, I’d like to sit with the Executive Secretary and maybe invite some guys from the ombudsman and the auditing office. And let’s agree on certain procedures,” the President said during the first anniversary of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission last Wednesday at Malacañang.  

“I said let’s simplify matters. Before the end of the year, I will just suggest and if it is accepted by all, fine, if not then... I want to involve Congress. Many get in trouble because of that,” he added.

Duterte said state auditors are “lost in a maze of many requirements” because they keep on adding requirements in government procedures. 

“Their regulations pile up. They add more and more regulations and... It could not really be corruption but it could be shortsightedness or plain… I will not follow that because that is stupid. Kaya lahat ng mga auditors natin medyo may katok (All of our auditors are a bit crazy). They are lost in a maze of so many requirements, some are really stupid,” he added. 

Duterte claimed some unscrupulous people are taking advantage of COA procedures to make money. 

“I do not really see the rationale of these requirements. But some stupid enterprising guys would just come up and make money. What for? You will come here, get those requirements and you have to spend money following up considering the monster of traffic that you have to deal with,” the President said. 

He has repeatedly criticized the COA for allegedly imposing too many regulations that delay the implementation of projects. In his previous speeches, the President talked about kidnapping state auditors because of his exasperation with the auditing requirements but later dismissed it as a joke. 

Despite his verbal attacks on COA, the President said he has a “healthy respect” for COA chairman Michael Aguinaldo.

Duterte reiterated he would not allow any form of corruption under his watch and assured the public he does not meddle with government projects. 

“If I land in jail, it could not be corruption. That would be very impossible,” he said.