President Rodrigo Duterte was not threatening the state auditors on Tuesday, he was only frustrated by the Commission on Audit’s stringent rules and processes that impede the administration’s projects, Malacañang said Thursday.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte’s scathing remarks against the COA were expressions of exasperation and vexation, which was “made in playful jest” in a “usual hyperbolic style.”
“I think the remarks of the President, which was delivered in playful jest, is a criticism that COA should apply even if the rules are very strict. You can liberally construe it within the ambit of the law that will not delay the delivery of services, that’s one,” Panelo told reporters.
“He was furious, but his remarks were not a threat.”
Duterte on Wednesday said he was only using rude words to defend himself from his critics.
“I am intentionally being rude because they have been rude to me even during the campaign period,” Duterte said in a speech in Dimasalang town in Masbate.
He said his use of harsh and vulgar words was mainly to “pursue the limits of civility.”
“I hope I have not offended anybody by my strong words or my jokes,” Duterte said.
Panelo said Duterte was indirectly addressing Congress to look into some of COA auditing protocols and procedures.
“I think it’s addressed to Congress. If there are provisions there that will impair the delivery of services, then Congress should amend the procedures of the auditing protocol,” Panelo said.
He said the COA could simplify the bidding procedures by reducing the number of days of filing the requirement needed for a project or bidding.
“They can bend a little but not in derogation of the provisions of the law, but still within the ambit,” Panelo said.
He maintained that Duterte only wanted the COA to loosen its strict rules without violating the law to make the processes easy.
“The President is a forthright person and the more his critics and detractors lambaste him on his style and action, the more he will stick to them,” Panelo said.