A former commissioner of the Commission on Audit (COA) raised questions on the need of the hefty finances the Marcos administration has earmarked for confidential and intelligence funds for the fiscal 12 months 2024.
In The Mangahas Interviews, former COA Commissioner Heidi Mendoza mentioned that if the federal government was satisfied that confidential and intelligence funds had been essential, “the real issue is sino ang nangangailangan?”
“There is not any query by way of kung kailangan ba. The query is sino-sino ang nangangailangan at sino-sino ang dapat pagbigyan, by the actual fact na konti na nga lang ‘yung naibigay. So impact, kailangan natin may impact, kailangan natin ‘yung tinatawag na quality of spending,” Mendoza said.
The confidential and intelligence funds proposed for next year amounts to P10.142 billion, higher by P120 million set aside in 2023.
Broken down, the administration allocated P5.277 billion for intelligence expenses and P4.864 billion for confidential expenses.
Broken down, the biggest share of the proposed CIF will go to the Office of the President at P4.51 billion. The Department of Agriculture (DA)—likewise headed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.—is also set to get P50 million.
The proposed CIF also includes P500 million for the Office of Vice President Sara Duterte, along with P150 million for the Department of Education (DepEd) which she also leads.
Other departments with CIF are the Departments of National Defense (DND) with P1.89 billion, the Interior and Local Government (DILG) with P906.62 million, Justice (DOJ) with P471.29 million, Information and Communications Technology (DICT) with P300 million, Finance (DOF) with P111 million, Foreign Affairs (DFA) with P50 million, Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with P18 million, Transportation (DOTr) with P15.6 million, and the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with P13.95 million.
Other executive offices have been allocated a CIF of P1.035 billion, the Office of the Ombudsman with P51.468 million, the Commission on Audit (COA) with P10 million, and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) with P1 million.
Mendoza questioned why the education sector needed confidential funds.
“Isa iyong tanong ko rito, bakit kailangan sa education? Ako’y nagtatanong bilang isang mag-aaral din, we continue to learn. Sasabihin daw na kasi ho nagkakaroon ng mga threat sa mga estudyante na nalululong sa droga. Tama iyon, kasi concern natin iyon bilang magulang,” the former COA executive said.
“Pero ang tanong ko, iyong doon ba sa pag-aaral ng threat na iyon, sino ba ang mayroong kakayanan, hindi ba iyong ahensya na may mandato riyan? Bakit hindi natin idiretso sa PDEA? Bakit hindi natin idiretso sa PNP kung iyan ang problema?”
The former COA executive also said that the DepEd should have its mandate connected to the need for a confidential fund.
“Maaaring sa pasikot-sikot, pwedeng kumonekta. Pero iyong existing structure and capacity, gagamit din ng iba,” Mendoza said.
As for the accountability of the funds’ utilization, she mentioned that the COA has an workplace referred to as the Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Unit (ICFAU).
“Dito isa-submit ‘yung certification, may certification ‘yan sa labas tapos lahat ng documents may envelope. Nandoon ‘yung plan, nandoon ‘yung security, at saka ‘yung certification ng disbursing officer at head of unit na itong cash advance na ito, itong perang ito nagamit namin in accordance with the security plan na aming isinubmit,” Mendoza mentioned.
“Then ang ICFAU, titingnan nila ‘yun, puwede silang mag-issue ng clearance. ‘Yung clearance na ‘yun ayon ang magbibigay ng parang hudyat para mag-draw ulit ng kasunod na cash advance para sa intel funds or confi funds. Now, take note na mayroon nakalagay sa batas, sa joint circular, na mayroon probiso doon na at any point puwedeng i-demand ng COA ‘yung submission ng supporting documents,” she mentioned.
However, she identified “‘wag nating isipin na ang solusyon dito ay ‘yung audit. Kasi meron itong limitations pagdating sa audit.”
Intelligence funds are outlined as these “related to intelligence information gathering activities of uniformed and military personnel, and intelligence practitioners” having a direct influence on nationwide safety.
Meanwhile, confidential funds are these “related to surveillance activities in civilian government agencies that are intended to support the mandate or operations of the agency.”
The Joint Circular No. 2015-01, issued by Commission on Audit (COA) and 4 different authorities our bodies on January 8, 2015, governs the spending of intelligence and confidential funds, in addition to the auditing of bills beneath it.
While common authorities bills are audited by a delegated crew from COA, stories on using intelligence funds are submitted to the President, whereas these on using confidential funds are despatched to the President, Senate President, Speaker of the House, or the Secretary of the DILG. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
