Ex-Pres. Duterte dares COA to audit Congress

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 19) — Former President Rodrigo Duterte challenged the Commission on Audit (COA) to expose how members of Congress spent public funds during the past years.

"'Wag na tayong mag-debate [We don't need to debate], just open the book, no more talk. Show us where the money is and how it was spent by all," Duterte said Tuesday in an interview with his spiritual adviser Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Sonshine Media Network International.

Duterte claimed that Congress has been «wallowing» itself with the people's money even during past administrations.

«Ang mga auditor ng COA takot mag-audit d'yan sa Congress, hindi ino-audit ang Congress,» he said.

[Translation: COA auditors are afraid to audit Congress, Congress is not being audited.]

«Everybody there must bow to the majesty of Congress because they hold the money of the people to be spent,» he added.

Duterte also urged COA to prioritize the audit of his office, as well as the Office of the Vice President held by his daughter, Sara.

«Unahin na nila ako pati kay Sara [Audit me and Sara first], make it a priority and COA should come up with a public statement to the challenge,» he said.

Alliance of Concerned Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro previously sought an investigation into the alleged ₱2.697-billion confidential funds of Davao City for the past six years, when Vice President Sara Duterte was its mayor.

READ: COA probe sought on alleged confidential funds of Davao City

Duterte, meanwhile, admitted that he has spent a lot of money to neutralize enemies of the state when he was still Davao mayor.

«Pinaganda ko ang Davao by all means. Patayan, totoo yan. Pinatay ko yung mga enemies of the state at yung mga nag-surrender, tinanggap ko,» he said.

[Translation: I made Davao beautiful by all means. The killings, those are true. I killed enemies of the state, and I accepted those who surrendered.]

He added that it was maintained by her daughter after his term ended.