CA body recommends confirmation of COA chief

A Commission on Appointments (CA) panel on Wednesday recommended the confirmation of Grace Pulido-Tan as chairman of the Commission on Audit (COA). The CA committee on constitutional commissions and offices made the recommendation even after a certain Marcelo Tecson opposed the nomination of Tan. Tecson, speaking during the CA hearing, said the COA can choose what kind of audit it will conduct but that it chose wrong when it decided to stop its pre-audit activities. "As a CPA professional, I believe that pre-audit is a must," he said. "I have been writing (to) COA and (they) never responded to me. In fact — the present COA chairman — in July I personally transmitted to her the communication and I never received a reply," he added. However, several CA members objected to hearing Tecson's opposition because it was not related to the fitness and qualifications of Tan as COA chair. "I think the complaint is absolutely without basis," said Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte during the hearing. "It is very clear that this is a policy issue... the regular function of COA is post-audit," added Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino. Senator Francis Escudero, for his part, suggested that COA just consider Tecson's sentiments as a recommendation to the agency. Kimberly Jane Tan/MRT/RSJ, GMA News