Photo File From THEPHILBIZNEWS
Magdalo Party-List Representative Gary Alejano slammed the call of President Duterte on local officials to defy the Commission on Audit circulars.
Alejano added,“The call of the President to defy the COA circulars is a huge irony to his supposed campaign against corruption. Tunay bang galit sa kurap ang Pangulo o nais niya pang protektahan ang mga ito?”
He also pointed out President Duterte’s lack of respect to government institutions and processes in his recent pronouncements during a situation briefing in Laoag, Ilocos Norte in the wake of typhoon Ompong.
“COA is a vital agency in fighting corrupt practices in government. Nasaan na ang check and balance sa gobyerno kung pati Commission On Audit ay nais isantabi ng Pangulo? Imbes na sabihing balewalain ang COA, dapat sana ang naririnig natin sa Pangulo ay pagbutihin pa ng ahensya ang pagtupad sa mandato nito para mapanagot ang mga kurap sa gobyerno,” Alejano stressed.
The opposition solon then likened President Duterte to a dictator given his blatant disgust to democratic processes and values.
It seems we really have a dictator as the President. Since assuming office, Duterte has been destroying institutions and undermining rule of law. Kung sabagay, hindi naman nagkulang ang Pangulo sa pagpapahayag na idolo nito ang diktador na si Marcos – from human rights violations, silencing of opposition, to corruption in government,” Alejano emphasized.
“Nais nating mapabilis ang paghahatid ng serbisyo sa taumbayan, ngunit hindi dapat kalimutan ng Pangulo na may mga batas at proseso tayong sinusunod para maiwasan ang gulo at pagsasamantala sa gobyerno. Duterte should stop condoning corrupt practices most especially from a family which has a long record of stealing from the nation’s coffers,” the Magdalo Representative ended.