JV Ejercito: Senate remains ‘consistent’ in allocating CIF to necessary agencies
November 30, 2023
Enter description here...Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito
assured the public that the Senate has been "consistently careful" in
allocating confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) in the 2024 General
Appropriations Bill, which contains the P5.768 trillion national budget.“Sa Senado, very consistent naman kami na
‘yung bibigyan ng confidential and intelligence funds ‘yung talagang mga
agencies na usual na binibigyan. Marami sa amin na nag-a-agree na yung mga
agencies na hindi kinakailangan, hindi talaga bibigyan,” Ejercito said in an
ambush interview with media after the bicameral meeting held in Makati City on
Thursday.
Ejercito emphasized the Senate's
"reluctance" to grant intelligence funds to unnecessary agencies,
citing the example of the Department of Information and Communications
Technology being excluded from such funds despite the increasing threat of
cybercrime.
“‘Yung sa DICT, I was proposing [to allocate
funds] nung umpisa because of the bagong kalaban na natin ‘yung cybercrime ‘no?
Lahat tayo nagiging biktima, pero inilagay pa rin sa isang bureau na CICC
(Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center)- ito 'yung in-charge against
anti-cybercrime, hindi pa rin CIF," Ejercito explained.
The lawmaker from San Juan said that the upper
chamber reserved these funds instead for agencies like the Department of
Defense, Philippine National Police, and Department of Justice that
traditionally receive such funds.
According to Ejercito, the Senate also
restored funding for the National Bureau of Investigation, highlighting the
importance of information and witness protection programs.
It can be remembered that Ejercito supported
allocating intelligence funds to the NBI's cybercrime unit and the PNP to
combat the increasing threat of online scams affecting ordinary Filipinos.
Ejercito also pointed out that placing funds
in the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) or as line items is more
acceptable to the public as it ensures clearer auditing and accounting
procedures.
"I think the auditing and accounting will
be more easier, mas maliwanag kasi nga, line item siya. Very specific.
Malalaman kung saan ginamit 'yung pondo," Ejercito said. "Minabuti
natin na ilagay na lang sa MOOE or sa line item at least it will be more
specific for what purpose as well."
When asked about the possibility of the
civilian agencies losing CIF in the Senate and House versions, Ejercito
affirmed that he doesn't see any reason to reintroduce it in the bicam meeting
since it has already been removed in the Senate.
Ejercito also shared that the CIF for the
Office of the Vice President has not been reinstated.
Regarding the Department of Education, he
mentioned that funds have been allocated to classrooms and other capital
outlays, ensuring a specific and justifiable purpose, particularly addressing
the ongoing shortage of classrooms.
Ejercito also said that based on Senate
President Migz Zubiri's advice, the Senate took action to strengthen the
Philippine Navy, Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Coast Guard,
because of the recent issues in the West Philippine Sea.
The
goal, he noted, was to establish a robust defense posture, focusing on
territorial integrity without direct confrontation with China.
