Nagkasundo ang liderato ng Kamara na alisin ang confidential at intelligence fund (CIF) ng mga government agencies na hindi naman sakop ang intelligence at security.
Sa isang joint statement inihayag ng mga political parties ang pagsuporta sa desisyon na ilipat ang CIF pandagdag sa pondo ng security agencies partikular ang nakatutok sa pagbabantay sa West Philippine Sea lalo at umiinit ang tensyon doon.
Ang ire-realign na pondo ay ilalagay sa National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) at National Security Council (NSC), Philippine Coast Guard (PSG), at Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) upang palakasin ang kanilang kapasidad at kakayanan sa pagbabantay sa West Philippine Sea.
“We have decided to reallocate — as part of the budget process — confidential and intelligence funds to other agencies chiefly responsible for intelligence and surveillance such as the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Security Council, PCG, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources,” sabi sa pahayag.
Ang joint statement ay nilagdaan nina Rizal 1st District Representative Michael John Duavit, pangulo ng Nationalist People’s Coalition; Agusan del Norte 1st District Representative Jose “Joboy” Aquino II, secretary general ng Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats; Romblon Representative Eleandro Jesus “Budoy” Madrona ng Nacionalista Party; Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel, vice president for Mindanao ng PDP-Laban; Camarines Sur Representative LRay Villafuerte, pangulo ng National Unity Party; at Barangay Health & Wellness (BHW) Partylist Representative Angelica Natasha Co, na kumatawan sa Partylist Coalition Foundation Inc. (PCFI).
“Recognizing the rising security threats in the West Philippine Sea and the need to secure top officials, these agencies are better positioned to counteract security threats, protect our territorial waters, and secure the rights and access of Filipino fishermen to traditional fishing grounds,” sabi pa ng pahayag.
Kabuuang ₱9.2-billion ang CIF na nakapaloob sa 2024 National Expenditure Program.
Nasa ₱4.3-billion ang para sa confidential fund at ₱4.9-billion ang intelligence fund. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
