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Ni Estong Reyes
DEDESISYUNAN na bukas, Miyerkules, ng Senado kung saan ililipat ang P500 milyong confidential funds at P150 milyong intelligence funds ni Vice President at Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
Kabilang dito ang ilan pang ahensiya ng pamahalaan na nagbigyan o humingi ng confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) kahit hindi nito kailangan.
Ayon sa pahayag ni Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri na ilan sa pinag-iisipang paglipatan ng pondo sa Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) o line budget.
Sinabi ni Zubiri na nakatakdang magbigay ng updates si Committee on Finance chair Senator Sonny Angara kung ano ang nakapagkasunduan sa ginanap na deliberasyon ng badyet nitong Okubre.
“The CIF can be realigned to the intelligence sector. Ang pag-uusapan na lang ay tanggal lahat talaga or may ma-iiwanan pa. Ilalagay ba sa MOOE or line budget,” ayon kay Zubiri.
“There’s no harm if it will be under the line budget or MOOE or under the salary system within the agency as they will be held accountable,” dagdag ni Zubiri.
Naunang inihayag ni Zubiri na plano ng Senado na muling bisitahin ang Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2015-01 sa “entitlement, release, use, reporting and audit” of CIF as allowed by the General Appropriations Act because it is “too broad.”
“The circular states that CIF may only be used for purchases of information for programs, activities, and projects relevant to national security, peace and order; rental of vehicles for confidential activities; rentals and incidental expenses for the maintenance of safe houses; purchase or rental of supplies, materials, and equipment for confidential operations; payment of rewards to informers; and to uncover/prevent illegal activities that pose a clear and present danger to agency personnel/property,” ayon sa memorandum.
“We want to make sure that the guidelines are simplified, and we want to limit its scope so that it can’t cover anything under the sun,” giit ni Zubiri sa radio interview.
