FILE PHOTO: Bayan Muna party-list is urging Congress to look into how public officials, whose offices have confidential and intelligence fund (CIF), spent that money this year and in 2023. The group said a probe into the matter is necessary, noting the “lack of transparency” on Vice President Sara Duterte’s CIF spending. Atty. Neri Colmenares pointed out that Duterte spent a total of P250 million of her CIF in just about four months. (in photo) (Joseph Vidal/ Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Bayan Muna party-list is urging Congress to look into how public officials who hold offices with confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) spent such money this year and in 2023.
The group said a probe into the matter is necessary, citing the “lack of transparency” in Vice President Sara Duterte’s CIF spending.
Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares pointed out that Duterte spent a total of P250 million of her CIF in just about four months.
“According to information gathered by Bayan Muna, VP Duterte spent P125 million of her Confidential and Intelligence Fund just for the period of February 6 to March 29, 2023, or in a span of about 50 days. Worse, she again spent another P25 million from April 25 to June 30, 2023, or just over 2 months” Colmenares said in a statement Tuesday.
READ: Panel to COA: Submit audit reports on OVP, DepEd, including secret funds
Citing Duterte’s report, Colmenares noted she spent P22 million for the “purchase of information” and P27 million for “payment of reward” without elaborating on how those funds were released.
He added that the vice president also spent P82 million for food aid – but this is not allowed under Joint Circular No. 2015-01 of the Commission on Audit (COA) and Department of Budget and Management, among others, according to Colmenares.
“Food aid is not intelligence work and can not be a part of CIF expense. Since this supposed food aid is not allowed for CIF spending, Congress must require the OVP (Office of the Vice President) to produce the receipt of this spending, as this is no different from auditable government projects distributing aid,” the Bayan Muna chair said.
Colmenares also said that Duterte should answer how she spent P125 million of her CIF in December 2022.
“She has not yet explained how she spent her Confidential Fund in 11 days in December 2022 and now was informed of another batch of spending in 2023. CIF must not be allowed because it diverts much-needed funds from people’s needs. Additionally, CIF is vulnerable to corruption. Members of Congress must ask these important questions to public officials like VP Duterte who use CIF,” he stressed.
Colmenares then called on COA “to fulfill its promise to audit these confidential funds.”
READ: SC to VP Sara: Answer petition on constitutionality of OVP’s P125M CF
“COA Chairman Gamaliel Cordova must explain to members of Congress the supposed audit it has undertaken. Considering that VP Duterte’s CIF spending contains items not allowed by the COA-DBM-DILG-GCG-DND Joint circular 2015-01, we urge COA to open up for scrutiny these items.”
“Under Sec. 4.15.13 of Joint Circular 2015-01, COA through its Intelligence and Confidential Fund Audit Unit, can open up the supporting documents of CIF spending to prove whether or not the expenses were genuinely spent,” he added.
INQUIRER.net sought the side of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) regarding this issue, but it has yet to reply as of posting time.
On Tuesday, the House committee on appropriations directed COA to submit audit reports involving the OVP and the Department of Education, including reports on confidential fund expenditures for 2022 and 2023.