MANILA — Senate President Francis Escudero assured the public that the Senate will scrutinize the confidential and intelligence funds in the 2025 National Expenditure Program.

Escudero maintained his position that these so-called spy funds are better off in the hands of law enforcers than civilian agencies, a thorny topic during the deliberations last year for the 2024 national budget.

READ: Duterte gave up confidential funds after 'pressure' from allies, public — analyst

 "Kasi ang pangunahing may trabaho kaugnay niyan ay law enforcement agencies, pero liwanagin ko rin na 'di ganoon kalibre yung pera ng CIF ha," he said.

(That's basically the job of law enforcers. But I have to point out that money in CIF cannot be spent freely ha)

Joint Circular No. 2015-01, issued by the budget, interior and defense departments, the Governance Council for GOCCs and the Commission on Audit, spells out which agencies are entitled to CIF and what the money can be spent on.

Escudero said Congress also put provisions in the 2024 national budget to make CIF spending less discretionary. 

'NO AUTOMATIC BUDGET CUTS'

The Senate chief however explained that lawmakers will not cut an agency's CIF over poor performance since that might only lead to worse performance.

"Kung saka-sakali, titingnan namin 'yung utilization ng intelligence fund. Saan ba napupunta ito para di nila magampanan yung trabaho nila sa kabila ng pondong binigay namin sa kanila?" he said.

(If ever, what we will look at is utilization. Where did the money go that the agency cannot do its job even if we gave them funds?)

The executive branch has earmarked P5.9 billion for intelligence expenses — the spy funds of the military and other uniformed branches of government — which is lower than the P8.267 billion allocated in 2024.

Confidential expenses, which are for civilian agencies, have a proposed budget of P4.3 billion against P4.1 billion in the 2024 budget.

Aside from the President, who is also Commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines the following offices also have confidential funds:

• Department of National Defense, which supervises the AFP

•  Department of Interior and Local Government, which oversees the Philippine National  Police

•  Department of Justice, which covers the National Bureau of Investigation

•  Department of Transportation, which covers the Philippine Coast Guard

•  Department of Environment and Natural Resources

•  Department of Finance

•  Department of Social Welfare and Development

•  Other Executive Offices

•  Commission on Audit

•  Office of the Ombudsman

•  Commission on Human Rights

Escudero said slashing the budgets of agencies that underperform or underspend is not a good attitude to have.

"Dapat tanungin bakit mababa. Halimbawa, kung gamot ang pinaguusapan natin, eh di porke't mababa 'yung absorptive capacity ng pambili ng gamot 'di na natin bibigyan ng pera pambili ng gamot," he said.

(We should find out why they failed to spend it.  For example, failing to spend all the money on medicines doesn't mean we shouldn't fund the budget for medicines)

He said lawmakers should look at what Congress can do to help agencies fulfill their mandates.

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