House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez agrees with Vice President Sara Duterte’s comments that confidential funds (CF) must be used in the pursuit of peace and security, with the House leader noting that such funds should be given to the best-suited agencies.
In a press briefing on Thursday night, Romualdez was asked to react to Duterte’s recent remarks — that people who undermined the CFs meant for peace and security purposes are against public safety and security.
“With respect to the confidential fund, we are all for the confidential funds and we are all for peace, and security, we’re all for that, we’re in total agreement that the utilization of the confidential and intelligence funds is to promote peace and security,” Romualdez said.
“So yes, we are one with the Vice President in having to make sure that confidential and intelligence funds, you know, are always part of the equation and of course, best left with the agencies and departments that are most and best-suited,” he added.
Romualdez said the realignments are merely a matter of prioritizing which agencies should get a bigger share — and the recent issues of intrusion into the Philippines’ territorial waters at the WPS is a matter of greater importance.
“It’s just a matter of prioritizing and making sure that despite the confidential and the fact that we have intel funds, the transparency and the most appropriate manner in which it is deployed and utilized must also be observed,” he said.
“That is why we are undergoing this whole process and that’s why because of the recent incidents, we are also making sure that CIF (confidential and intelligence funds) is properly deployed for the West Philippine (Sea) issues,” he added.
Duterte, during the 122nd Police Service Anniversary of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Caraga Regional Office on Wednesday, said that anyone who attacks the funds for peace and order have “insidious motivations” as these “go against the protection and well-being” of Filipinos.
For 2024, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd),,which the vice president also heads, asked for a CF of P500 million and P150 million, respectively.
The House leadership however vowed to realign these to agencies involved in securing the West Philippine Sea (WPS).