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Thursday, December 04, 2003
Pimentel seeks measures vs. misuse of intel budget
SEN. Aquilino Pimentel has called on the government to guard against the possible misuse of intelligence funds for electioneering or political purposes.
Pimentel said any illegal diversion of the intelligence fund to election campaign activities can be prevented by adopting guidelines under the 2004 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
He also warned that misuse of funds might happen if Congress fails to approve the proposed P846.8 billion national budget by January 2004 before it goes into the long election recess.
The failure of Congress to enact the 2004 GAA on time would mean that the 2003 national budget would be automatically re-enacted.
"There will be greater risks that the national budget will be manipulated for the elections if Congress adjourns this month without (approving) the budget bill," Pimentel added.
The 2004 budget has not been approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate said budget deliberations and approval could not be finished by the end of the year.
Pimentel lamented that the delay in the approval of the proposed national budget has resulted in a situation wherein Congress has to resort to enacting a P5 billion supplemental budget ahead of the 2004 GAA.
This is to ensure that there would be funds for the May 2004 elections and for the salary adjustment of personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). JPM
(December 4, 2003 issue)
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