For Filipino wage earners worried about the price of rice, it must have been shocking to discover that a high-ranking government official spent P125 million in confidential funds within 11 days, equivalent to about P11.4 million per day. This scandalous expenditure has not been accounted for by the official. What makes it even more appalling is the realization that this money comes from our taxes, which the government takes from us for every purchase we make and every centavo we earn.
During House deliberations on the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo disclosed that the P125 million confidential funds allotted to the Office of Vice President (OVP) Sara Duterte in 2022 were actually spent within 11 days, not 19 days as previously thought. These funds, referred to as confidential and intelligence funds (CIF), were transferred from the Office of the President in December 2022, despite a 2013 Supreme Court ruling that deemed additional funding for projects not included in the original appropriation request unconstitutional.
It is important to note that the original 2022 budget of the OVP did not allocate any funds for confidential purposes. The Commission on Audit (COA) has already issued an audit observation memorandum to the OVP, highlighting deficiencies in its accounts. Questions have been raised regarding the necessity of such a large allocation for intelligence purposes, especially when compared to the CIF budget given to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), which plays a crucial role in protecting the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
The PCG received a total of P118.7 million in CIF over the past 17 years, with an average of P400,000 a year from 2006 to 2011 and P10 million a year from 2013 to 2023. Given China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, this allocation is woefully insufficient for top-notch intelligence on their moves.
The transfer of funds to the OVP has been a subject of debate, with the Office of the President arguing for its legality and opposition lawmaker Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman countering it. The Supreme Court should clarify its earlier ruling to settle the debate and ensure taxpayer money is used judiciously.
Several national agencies have also requested CIF, prompting Quimbo to suggest possible amendments on who should be entitled to such allocation. Stricter requirements and reporting criteria from the COA should be implemented, especially for government-owned and controlled corporations that often escape scrutiny for their fiscal decisions.
There are currently no sanctions or penalties imposed on agencies that fail to comply with COA’s reportorial requirements, which only encourages the wasteful use of government funds. Lagman suggests limiting CIFs to appropriate agencies consistent with their mandate, a proposal that seems to have gained support from various political parties and lawmakers.
A political shift seems to be happening at the House, with the announcement that part of President Duterte’s P650-million confidential funds will be realigned to agencies protecting the West Philippine Sea. While this is a welcome development, it begs the question of why only part and not the entire amount is being realigned.
Ultimately, it is the duty of the COA, Congress, and the DBM to safeguard the use of public funds regardless of the individuals involved. They must enforce rules and regulations to prevent wasteful and questionable government spending. As Senator Risa Hontiveros emphasized, this is a matter of respecting the budget process, constitutional requirements, and taxpayers.
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