SA programang Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa, Martes ng gabi, ay binigyang-diin ni dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte na bagama’t naniniwala siya sa integridad ng Mababang Kapulungan at ang kanilang mahigpit na pagsunod sa batas ay dapat ding malinaw sa publiko kung paano nila ginagamit ang pondo ng taumbayan sa ngalan ng transparency sa pamamagitan ng pag-audit.
“‘Yung integrity ng institution of Congress, iba ‘yung demand from a citizen of this country invoking the right, constitutional right of the people to be informed lalo na sa pera nila. Whether or not they are legitimate in the sense that they spent the money, well ok lang ‘yan. But you know hanggang bunganga lang ‘yan,” saad ni Dating Pangulong Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
Ngunit ayon sa dating Pangulo, na nagiging depensa lang ng Kamara ang kanilang pahayag at inilahad na hindi dumadaan sa audit ang nasabing sangay ng pamahalaan.
“Well, maybe your truth but how about the truth of the people? Kasi what is the best that we can do? Pati itong partylist. You’re under the protection let me find the word, and your sustenance subsistence nandyan sa Speaker. At ‘yung extra money ninyo na binigay beyond your salary. Makikita ‘yan, and you’ve find it a horror, maybe when they finally opened the records that their salary is just a pittance to what allowances they are receiving.”
“Magtanong ka ng mga congressman na wala na diyan o magtanong kayo ng mga kaibigan na nandyan at sabihin nila ang totoo, ang mga auditor ng COA takot mag-audit diyan sa Congress.”
“Hindi in-audit ang Congress, you have never heard of a red flag hoisted in the premises or in the territory of Congress. Not once, not twice, not at all. Maghanap kayo ng isang red flag and despite or in spite of the strict accounting rules, Congress cannot be penetrated,” dagdag ni FPRRD.
Ani Duterte, dapat handang buksan ng mga mambabatas ang mga book of account o ang mga napaglaanan na nila ng pondo upang malaman ito ng publiko bilang pagtalima sa ilalim ng batas.
“Ok if you are telling the truth, then let us open the book of accounts. Wala man problema, strict adherence man kaya? Edi ipakita mo. “Ito mayor, strict adherence, nagkamali ka dito…” Then I will apologize.”
“It is provided by law, by the Constitution itself. Not a mere regulation—Constitution—the right of the people to be informed. Even the Senate, even the Supreme Court must bow to that injunction made by the Constitution,” diin ng dating Pangulo.
FPRRD, handang isapubliko ang gastos sa kanilang confidential funds ni VP Sara
Giit din ni dating Pangulong Duterte na handa siyang pabuksan ang confidential funds, maging ang kay VP Sara at kung ano ang naging resulta nito.
“Huwag mo akong lokohin, galing ako diyan. Gusto ko buksan ang libro ni Lower House Head, si Romualdez. Ganu’n. Simple lang man iyan and it is provided by law, by the Constitution itself. Not a mere regulation—Constitution—the right of the people to be informed.”
“Even the Senate, even the Supreme Court must bow to that injunction made by the Constitution. Pati ako, pati si Inday. Now, open up the confidential funds namin ni Inday,” aniya.
