Nanindigan ang liderato ng Kamara at ang small committee para sa amyenda ng 2024 General Appropriations Bill na ililipat ang confidential funds ng civilian agencies sa mga ahensya na mas angkop magsagawa ng intelligence at surveillance.
Ito ang sinabi ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez sa isang press conference matapos matanong kung may tiyansa pang ma-rekonsiderang hindi alisin ang confidential fund ng Office of the vice President at Department of Education na pinamumunuan ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ayon kay Romualdez ang collective decision ng Kamara ay i-realign ang confidential funds ng Office of the Vice President (OVP), Department of Education (DepEd), at iba pang civilian agencies.
“Right now, the collective decision of the House, and we had a call to speak with the conference with the party leaders for the time being. The CIF will be realigned and put to other departments or agencies that will be best suited to conduct the security aspects of the secretary or the VP’s concern,” sabi ni Speaker Romualdez.
Tinukoy din nito ang naunang pahayag ng Bise Presidente na ipinauubaya niya sa desisyon ng Kongreso kung pananatilihin ang confidential fund ng kaniyang opisina.
“So borrowing the words of the Vice President that even she says that she could live without it and she would leave it to the sound discretion of the Congress for its proper disposition. Under the circumstances, we felt that it would best be realigned to the agencies and to the departments and into the areas where we have just mentioned that are our priority… And it apparently is the right decision because even now the Senate is following suit,” dagdag ng House leader.
Tiniyak naman ni Romualdez na bukas ang Kongreso sa pakikipag-dayalogo sa OVP at DepEd upang tulungan ito na maipatupad pa rin ang security programs nito at hahanapan ng makakatuwang na ahensya na ang pangunahing mandato ay pang-seguridad.
“We’ll be more than happy to work with the OVP’s office and the DepEd’s Secretary’s Office on other requirements that they may have when it comes to these matters and other related needs of the respective department and the office of the OVP… we are always open and welcoming the OVP and the secretary to give us suggestions, recommendations on whatever requirements for whatever needs that the department or her office needs,” ani Romualdez. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
