đź“·Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares
Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares today asked Congress to meticulously scrutinize the CIF spending of public officials in 2023 and 2024 as information on VP Sara Duterte shows lack of transparency in CIF spending.
“According to information gathered by Bayan Muna, VP Duterte spent Php 125 Million of her Confidential and Intelligence Fund just for the period of February 6-March 29, 2023 or in a span of about 50 days. Worse, she again spent another Php 125 Million from April 25 to June 30, 2023 or just over 2 months” said Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares.
“During that period, she reported that she spent Php 22 Million for “purchase of information” and another Php 27 Million for “payment of reward” without explaining this huge amount in just over 3 months since the two items could overlap and be given to the same person. She also reported spending a total of Php 82 million allegedly for “food aid” which is NOT allowed under the COA-DBM-DILG-GCG-DND J.C. No. 2015-01 dated January 8, 2015. Food aid is not intelligence work and can not be a part of CIF expense.  Since this supposed “food aid” is not allowed for CIF spending, Congress must require the OVP to produce the receipt of this spending as this is no different from auditable government projects distributing aid.”
Colmenares also demanded that “the OVP answer during her budget deliberations, how she spent Php 20 Million travelling expenses in just over three months when she has a budget of Php 59.5 Million for travel as OVP, not to mention the billions in travel budget by the Deped. More importantly, she must explain how she spent another Php 125 million in December 2022,” said Colmenares. “She has not yet explained how she spent her Confidential Fund in 11 days in December 2022 and now was informed of another batch of spending in 2023. CIF must not be allowed because it diverts much needed funds from peoples need. Additionally, CIF is really vulnerable to corruption at madali syang kurakutin.
Members of Congress must ask these important questions to public officials like VP Duterte who use CIF.“
Colmenares also demanded that COA fulfill its promise to audit these confidential funds. “COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordova must explain to members of Congress the supposed audit it has undertaken. Considering that VP Duterte’s CIF spending contains items not allowed by the COA-DBM-DILG-GCG-DND Joint circular 2015-01, we urge COA to open up for scrutiny these items. Under Sec. 4.15.13 of Joint Circular 2015-01, COA through its Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Unit (ICFAU), can open up the supporting documents of CIF spending to prove whether or not the expenses were genuinely spent.
“Untransparent itong CIF, dapat tight guarding ito. Kaya hindi pwedeng pabayaan na lang ang pagwaldas ng pondo ng bayan sa mga kunyaring pinagkagastusan na wala naman support ng resibo o proof of payment. Dapat ang mga pondong ito, dalhin sa mga nangangailangan tulad ng ayuda sa mga nasalanta ng bagyong Carina at oil spill, hindi sa reward o travel ng kung sino-sino,” said the former Bayan Muna solon.
“Dapat mahinto na ang kaliwat kanan na pag bigay ng confidential and intelligence fund sa mga sibilyang ahensya ng gobiyerno. Congress must ensure that the 2025 budget is cleansed of such highly irregular and unauditable expenses like these confidential and intelligence funds. Charges must be filed against those who cannot account for their CIF expenses” ended Colmenares.
