“With the action of the House, however, let’s hope we have seen the last of this sordid episode”
All the news about intelligence and confidential funds have really opened a can of worms.
It gives the impression that every instrument of government is involved in intelligence work.
It also seems to give credence to what some people are saying: Join the government and enjoy the perks of unaudited expenditure of government funds.
It reminds me of one posting from our senior Viber group saying “if joining politics becomes a lot more profitable than business, then something is terribly wrong with our country.”
This issue of intelligence funds became a hot topic because of the amount of money being mentioned and whether the offices getting them are entitled to it.
Since it is all over the news already, let us take that report about Davao City wherein about P2.697 billion was allegedly spent for intelligence work over six years.
If we do the math, that will come to about P1,231,506 million a day.
That is a staggering amount of money for intelligence however anybody tries to look at it.
And from what has been coming out in the papers, it is not only Davao City. It just so happened that it apparently spent the largest amount.
Intelligence and confidential funds, according to the Secretary of the DILG, is authorized by law but added that it should not be abused.
I tried to look for the specific law authorizing government agencies and local government units to have intelligence budgets but could not find it.
What I saw was the January 8, 2015 joint circular among COA, DILG, DBM, DND and other agencies on entitlements, how intelligence funds should be spent and the liquidation process.
This appears to be the basis for agencies to have intelligence and confidential funds.
From my own experience in government, however, this has been going on much earlier.
But back then, not all agencies in the executive branch were authorized intelligence and confidential funds but local government units did have intelligence funds but the amounts were very much smaller than what is being mentioned today.
Although the report on the intelligence expenditure of Davao City and other big LGUs like Makati, Quezon City, Manila and others gave the public an idea of the kind of money going to intelligence, it did not paint the whole picture.
This is because we have 82 provinces, 149 chartered cities, and 1,487 municipalities not counting the other agencies of government in the executive branch that are also allocated intelligence budgets.
The total amount if computed would, therefore, really be huge.
This being the case, it would be reasonable for the public to expect that with that money going to detecting those terrorist groups who are waging an insurgency war to overthrow our government these people would have been caught already and put behind bars.
But, as we can see, this is obviously not the case.
They are still very much around.
But how has this issue of intelligence and confidential funds become such a monster that, if no control is applied, will go out of control as it probably has already.
Just like anything else, this started small.
The Office of the President, for instance, started with about P500 million a year.
In 2016, however, this was suddenly increased to P2.5 billion by the Budget Secretary.
This created a little controversy but the Budget Secretary then, who is now the Secretary of Finance Ben Diokno, explained it was increased because he was asked and that was that.
End of the story.
Today, this has increased to P4.5 billion and it is safe to assume that so have the others.
Based from media reports, the way the funds are spent gives the impression funds or a large part of it are not being spent as intended.
This is perhaps mainly due to that media report about the P125 million intelligence fund spent in just 11 days.
From what I know, spending intelligence funds starts with an approved intelligence project.
Without one, intelligence funds cannot be disbursed.
But if we read the media reports, intelligence funds are apparently being released in bulk and the only clearing instrument required is a certification from the head of office the funds were spent for intelligence purposes.
I do not think we the public have seen the last of this issue.
The question is what happens now to all the intelligence funds in the 2024 national budget amounting to P9.2 billion or, to be more precise, the Intelligence funds intended for the DepEd and the Office of the Vice President totaling about P650 million because that was where the controversy started. According to yesterday’s news, the House has realigned the OVP and DepEds intelligence and confidential to other agencies.
Could that be the end of it? Let’s wait and see.
Under normal circumstances, the intelligence funds for the OVP and DepEd totaling P650 million cannot or difficult to justify.
Still, Vice President Sarah Duterte mounted a spirited defense saying those who are criticizing do not like peace.
That is understandable considering that she is a Reserve Officer in the AFP, a graduate of the National Defense College and also cares deeply about national security.
Unfortunately, her two current job descriptions do not justify her office receiving intelligence and confidential funds.
The only way the allocations can be justified is if the VP will be given additional tasks by the President that has something to do with national security even if it is only in an advisory capacity.
But, who knows, anything is possible in this country.
Perhaps in a short while as it is often the case, this issue will be forgotten quickly and everything will again be business as usual.
With the action of the House, however, let’s hope we have seen the last of this sordid episode.