President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Rizalina Justol as the new chairperson of the Commission on Audit (COA), according to Malacañang on Friday.
Acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said that Duterte signed Justol's appointment papers on February 17.
"Malacañang expresses its sincerest congratulations to Rizalina Noval Justol on her appointment as chairperson of the Commission on Audit," Nograles said in a press briefing.
"We wish chairperson Justol success in COA and assure her that the government will always be supportive of COA's efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of government funds," he added.
Justol replaces Michael Aguinaldo, whose term as COA chief ended on February 2.
The new COA chairperson previously served as Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Administration under the Office of the President.
She was also a city accountant in Davao City where Duterte ruled as a long-time mayor. According to a report from ABS-CBN News, Justol was among the Davao executives who faced plunder and malversation charges in 2010 for the alleged mishandling of around P2.93 billion in public funds from 2003 to 2006.
Nograles, when asked to comment about Justol's history, said that all appointments are based on experience and achievements.
"All appointed officials are appointed based on experience, credentials, achievements, accomplishments," the presidential spokesperson said.
"Secondly, for positions like sa COA chair and for many high positions, apart from the appointment, ay dadaan pa rin naman ng proseso ng confirmation," he added.
(Secondly, for positions like in COA chair and for many high positions, apart from the appointment, they will also undergo the process of confirmation.)
