VICE President Sara Duterte said Wednesday, October 4, 2023, that those opposing confidential funds are also going against peace.
Breaking her silence over the controversial confidential and intelligence funds (CIF), Duterte, the concurrent secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), defended the crucial role of confidential funds in ensuring the security and development of the country.
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the DepEd are requesting for the allotment of a combined P650 million CIF under the 2024 proposed budget of the National Government.
The OVP was also criticized for spending its P125 million confidential funds in 2022 in a span of just 11 days.
"Confidential funds play a vital role in maintaining security by providing the necessary resources to address unforeseen challenges swiftly and decisively. Whether it is combating terrorism, tackling organized crime, or safeguarding the integrity of our nation, these funds enable our law enforcement agencies and intelligence bodies to protect our citizens effectively. They allow us to respond promptly to security threats, ensuring the safety of our people and the stability of our nation," she said in her speech during the 122nd Police Service Anniversary of the Police Regional Office 13 in Butuan City.
"The allocation of confidential funds should not be constrained by time. It matters not whether it takes one day or one year of spending; what truly matters is the safety and security of our people. We cannot cap the importance of protecting our citizens based on arbitrary timeframes. We must remain committed to providing the necessary resources for our security forces to fulfill their duties and protect our nation," she added.
Duterte said anyone who attacks or undermines funds allocated for peace and order is “naturally assumed to have insidious motivations.”
“Such actions go against the protection and well-being of our citizenry. Those who seek to compromise the security and development of our nation jeopardize the very fabric of our society and hinder our progress,” she said.
“Makinig kayo sa lahat ng sinasabi sa palibot ninyo at tandaan ninyo, kung sino man kumokontra sa confidential funds ay kumokontra sa kapayapaan. Kung sino ang kumokontra sa kapayapaan ay kalaban ng bayan,” Duterte added.
(Listen to everything that is being said around you and remember, whoever opposes confidential funds opposes peace. Whoever opposes peace is an enemy of the people.)
The lower chamber of Congress passed on September 27, 2023, on the third and final reading the proposed P5.768 trillion budget for fiscal year 2024.
House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Elizaldy Co said the CIF of the OVP, DepEd and other civilian agencies will be reallocated to augment the budget of agencies dealing with the tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) such as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Security Council, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
The Senate, according to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, is also looking into realigning the CIF to agencies with security mandates.
Intelligence fund is being used for information-gathering activities of uniformed and military personnel, and intelligence practitioners that have a direct impact on national security while confidential expenses may be used for surveillance activities in civilian government agencies that are intended to support its mandate or operations. (SunStar Philippines)