INQToday: Solons open to redirect CIFs to defenders of West PH Sea

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

Lawmakers to reallocate CIF to gov’t units fighting for PH right over WPS

Leaders of six political parties in the House of Representatives have expressed their willingness to reallocate confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) to security agencies responsible for surveillance activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The lawmakers’ decision came after the Chinese Coast Guard installed a floating barrier southeast of Bajo de Masinloc off the coast of Zambales last September 22.

Marcos rejects proposal to reduce rice tariffs

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has rejected a proposal to reduce tariffs on imported rice.

“It was not the right time to lower the tariff rates because the projection of world rice prices is that it will go down. So, this is not the right time to lower tariffs,” the Chief Executive said in a statement on Tuesday.

OTS chief resigns amid reported Naia theft cases

Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Ma.O Aplasca has tendered his resignation in the wake of several  reported cases of theft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

Aplasca’s resignation came after Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Monday issued an ultimatum for him to resign right before the House of Representatives tackles the OTS’ proposed budget or he will personally block it.

Aplasca: ‘We were so close to solving corruption, theft problem at Naia’

After resigning, former Office of Transportation Security (OTS) administrator Ma.O Aplasca on Wednesday lamented how the agency was already so close to addressing corruption and theft problems at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

Aplasca made the pronouncement after he resigned on Tuesday due to an ultimatum from Speaker Martin Romualdez, where he warned the OTS chief to resign or the agency’s budget would be blocked.