Bato dela Rosa defends OP intel funds

The Office of the President (OP) will be rendered “inutile” should Congress opts to take out P4.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) from President Marcos’ first budget request, or so Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa claims.

“He is the commander-in-chief and Chief Executive. If you provided [CIF] to other government departments, why will you deprive [OP] of having similar funds?” Dela Rosa told a radio interview on Sunday.

“Where can you find an [OP] with no [CIF]? He will have no elbow room to easily access funds. You will just make the [OP] inutile,” he claimed.

Last week, the senators approved the OP’s proposed budget of P8.9 billion.

—Marlon Ramos INQ