Former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson over the weekend pushed for added functions for the Commission on Audit (COA), including the power to initiate investigations and file cases against those involved in corruption.
Lacson said that while the COA can expose acts of corruption, its functions are limited to being recommendatory – and its findings can be rendered useless if the appropriate agency does not act.
“It would be good if lawmakers gave the COA added powers. The COA’s current powers are recommendatory, so it passes its findings to the appropriate agency for action. It would be better if we give it the mandate to initiate investigations and file charges,” he said in Filipino, in an interview on DZRH radio.
Related: Ping Lacson, Nais Magkaroon ng Dagdag na Kapangyarihan Para sa COA Laban sa Korapsyon
He said this is part of a two-pronged approach that the government may adopt to improve accountability, the other “prong” being to strengthen the oversight function of Congress.
Lacson cited one instance where the COA issued notices of suspension and disallowance to the Department of Agriculture in 2023, amounting to P7.3 billion for – among others – irregular monetization of leave credits.
But he said that if the agency to which the COA referred its findings does not act, the case is as good as dead.
“If the agency to which the COA refers its findings does not act, what happens? But if you give COA the power to file charges before the Department of Justice or the Ombudsman, that’s the COA’s passion because it knows the details of the case,” he said.
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Ping Lacson, Nais Magkaroon ng Dagdag na Kapangyarihan Para sa COA Laban sa Korapsyon
Isinulong ni dating Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang dagdag na kapangyarihan para sa Commission on Audit (COA), kabilang ang pagsimula ng imbestigasyon at pag-file ng kaso laban sa mga sangkot sa katiwalian.
Ani Lacson, bagama’t nabubuking ng COA ang katiwalian, tali ang kamay nito dahil hanggang rekomendasyon lang ang kakayahan nito, at mauuwi sa wala kung hindi inakaysunan ng ahensyang pinasahan nito ng datos.
“Maganda kasi sa legislation dagdag natin ang power ng COA. Kasi ang COA ngayon findings, recommendatory, pasa sa kung anong ahensya. Mas maganda kung bigyan natin ng mandato na pwede sila mag-initiate ng investigation at mag-file ng kaso,” aniya sa panayam sa DZRH radio.
Dagdag ni Lacson, kabilang ito sa two-pronged approach na maaaring gamitin ng pamahalaan para mapalago ang accountability. Ang pangalawang “prong” nito ay ang pagpapalakas ng oversight function ng Kongreso.
Hinalimbawa ni Lacson ang kaso kung saan nag-issue ang COA ng mga notice of suspension at disallowance sa Department of Agriculture noong 2023, na umabot ng P7.3 bilyon para sa iba’t ibang bagay kabilang ang “irregular monetization of leave credits.”
Nguni’t kung hindi umakto ang ahensyang pinasahan ng COA ng datos, wala nang mangyayari, aniya.
“(Paano kung) walang gana ang napagpasahan ng datos, at hindi na mag-initiate? Unlike kung COA na bigyan mo ng power na mag-file ng kaso sa DOJ o sa Ombudsman, passion nila yan. At pinaghirapan nila yan, alam nila. Absorb na absorb nila kung ano ang kanilang inimbestigahan,” aniya.
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