MANILA (UCAN): “Corruption and greed in a time of pandemic and death are truly evil … Covid kills. Corruption kills more,” Divine Word Father Flavie Villanueva said, reacting to a scathing report by the Philippine Audit Commission fingering the country’s Health Department for failing to utilise 59.1 billion pesos [$9.3 billion] of its 2020 budget allotment despite the onset of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The report also red-flagged “various deficiencies” concerning 42.4 billion pesos [$6.4 billion] worth of transactions that had no supporting documents or receipts. It said the irregularities suggested corruption within the Health Department.
In a Facebook post, Father Villanueva said that real evil lies in government transactions that took advantage of the poor during the pandemic, claiming that the Health Department is involved in pocketing funds meant for Covid patients.
‘Please explain these [transactions] to the people. We deserve an explanation of how government funds are spent, especially now that millions of Filipinos are suffering’
Father Villanueva
“This is really sad … And to think that this [alleged corruption] was done in the very institution that is supposed to be saving lives,” he said.
The priest pointed to the purchase of four laptops mentioned in the audit that cost the Health Department around 705,000 pesos [$108,000].
Father Villanueva called on Health secretary, Francisco Duque, to ensure more transparency in his department’s dealings.
“Please explain these [transactions] to the people. We deserve an explanation of how government funds are spent, especially now that millions of Filipinos are suffering,” he said.
He also posted excerpts from the audit report showing large amounts spent on procuring medical equipment that remains undelivered.
Father Villanueva said the real virus that kills is not Covid-19 but the president, Rodrigo Duterte, himself by tolerating corruption within the government.
