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SA gitna ng kabi-kabilang patutsada, nagpasya ang Kamara tanggalan ng confidential at intelligence fund (CIF) ang dalawang tanggapan ni Vice President Sara Duterte batay na rin sa rekomendasyon ng mga tumatayong lider ng Mababang Kapulungan at maging ng iba’t-ibang partido.
Sa pahayag ng makapangyarihang House Committee on Appropriations, mas piniling bigyan ng angkop na prayoridad ang kaligtasan at seguridad ang West Philippine Sea laban sa banta ng pananakop ng bansang China.
“The House of Representatives will realign the confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) of certain civilian agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, to augment the budgets of intelligence and security forces tasked to address escalating threats in the West Philippine Sea,” saad sa bungad ng kalatas na ipinalabas na nabanggit na komite.
“The country’s safety and security are of paramount importance. To protect our territorial integrity from external threats, Congress is giving top priority to agencies directly in charge protecting the country’s safety and securing its borders,” diin pa liderato ng Appropriations committee.
Paliwanag ng naturang House panel, nagkakaisang sumang-ayon ang lahat ng tumatayong lider ng iba’t ibang partido sa Kamara na dagdagan ang pondo para sa National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), National Security Council (NSC), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sa isinusulong na 2024 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
“As discussed, we will realign the confidential funds of various civilian agencies. Now is the time to give our intelligence community the means to perform their duties, especially in these pressing times when we’re facing serious concerns in the West Philippine Sea,” paliwanag pa ng komite.
“The CIFs from other departments and agencies will be realigned to the NSA, NICA, PCG and BFAR to boost the country’s monitoring and operational capabilities in protecting our territorial waters and securing the rights and access of Filipino fishermen to their traditional fishing grounds,” dugtong nito.
Kabilang sa apektado sa gagawing budget realignment ay ang CIF ng tanggapan ni Duterte-Carpio at maging ang pinamumunuan niyang Department of Education (DepEd), na mayroong pinagsamang halaga na na P650 ng nasabing pondo para sa taong 2024.
