Senate of the Philippines (PNA file photo by Avito C. Dalan)
MANILA – The Senate leadership on Tuesday clarified in a statement that the chamber has no allocation for confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) this year.
What it does have are Extraordinary and Miscellaneous Expenses (EME) amounting to PHP331.942 million.
Senate Secretary Rey Bantug issued the statement in response to reports, some on social media, alleging that the Senate has a CIF of PHP331 million for 2023.
"These social media posts are deliberately misleading and maliciously presented by some personalities who seek to malign and tarnish the reputation of the institution currently taking a long, hard look at the nature of CIFs and the government agencies that deserve to have them," the statement read.
He explained that under the Senate's Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, only EME has a line item which is intended for meetings, seminars, conferences, public relations, education and other activities.
Bantug admitted that in the past, the Senate was allocated with confidential funds amounting to PHP100 million in 2020; PHP100 million in 2021; and PHP50 million in 2022, but none were ever spent.
He reiterated Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri’s stand that they do not need the CIF.
"He [Zubiri] has been actively saying that confidential and intelligence funds should be for our military, police and other uniformed personnel who protect our country from both internal and external security threats," Bantug said.
In a Facebook post, Zubiri cited the circulating reports as "fake news."
"Walang confi funds ang Senado (Senate has no confidential funds) during my term. I don't want it and I don't need it!" he said.
With close to 30 government agencies asking for CIF for their 2024 proposed budgets, the Senate activated the Select Oversight Committee on Intelligence and Confidential Funds, Programs and Activities that will review and scrutinize the requests. (PNA)
