Duterte threatens to cut funds to Red Cross: ‘Either you submit to an auditing procedure or we quarrel’

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to stop funding for the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) as it urged its chairman, Senator Dick Gordon to subject the humanitarian organization to government audit.

Duterte insisted that the PRC had been receiving public funds, particularly from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

“Wala akong pakialam. Hindi ako magbigay ng pera sa iyo. At saka as far as I’m concerned, Red Cross does not exist. And you can create a controversy there or a crisis. I do not mind because, I said, I am on the right track,” the Chief Executive said during his pre-recorded Talk to the People aired Saturday morning.

“Either you submit to an auditing procedure or we quarrel. ‘Pag mag-quarrel, do your worst because I will do mine,” he also said.

Duterte said he would write PRC a letter “in the coming days” to open up their records or else he will be forced to “totally disassociate” with the humanitarian agency.

“Any money belonging to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines given to an agency, whatever be the nature, if you are operating here and you receive the money and spend it, you are accountable to the government and therefore an audit is in order,” according to him.

“So in the coming days, I will write you a letter to open up your records because I will also request (Commission on Audit chairman Mike) Aguinaldo, and I am sure he knows his business, that there is money in Red Cross belonging to the government which he has to look into,” he furthered.

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Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)