(Photo courtesy: Boy Santos, The STAR)

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines welcomes Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar’s correction of his statement for the Commission on Audit not to publicize its audit findings.

Audit processes are meant to ensure transparency in government spending and part of that transparency is making reports on these processes available to the public

It would be better, as the PNP chief has directed units in his organization, for government agencies to coordinate with the COA on these findings instead of appealing to emotion and questioning the motives of these mandated reports.

NUJP also commends our colleagues covering the COA for their efforts in poring through these voluminous audit reports to better inform the public of how government funds are being spent.

While these audit reports do not make conclusions on corruption as the COA has pointed out, stories on the government audit process can and should be part of the public conversation on pandemic response and on the delivery of government services.

Reference:
National Directorate
+639175155991