‘A huge mistake’: Pimentel hits confidential and intelligence funds in 2024 budget
FILE PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III. (Voltaire F. Domingo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel said it is “a huge mistake” that the executive department is seeking a considerable amount of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in its proposed 2024 national budget while many Filipinos are suffering from calamities.
According to the senator, this “budgetary decision” of the Marcos administration only proves that it does not have a genuine understanding of the “real needs” of and challenges being faced by the country.
“The allocation of P9.2 billion to confidential and intelligence funds, while our fellow Filipinos in calamity-stricken areas suffer, raises serious questions about the government’s understanding of the real needs and challenges faced by our country,” Pimentel said in a statement Saturday.
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“This budgetary decision is a huge mistake. It only strengthens what I discussed during my contra SONA that the government failed to understand the situation at the household level,” he added.
The Office of the President is seeking P4.56 billion CIF for 2024. The Office of the Vice President (OVP), on the other hand, is requesting P500 million CIF – this is apart from the P150 million CIF that the Department of Education (DepEd) is asking for. Both the OVP and DepEd are being led by Sara Duterte.
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Pimentel said this shows a “lack of empathy and understanding” of what ordinary Filipinos really need, adding that it would be better if these funds were utilized to address the impending effects of El Niño.
He further said that such amount may also be beneficial if used in recovery and rebuilding efforts for the country’s economy as recent weather disturbances left a trail of destruction in agriculture and infrastructure, and distressed millions of people.
