Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV and Vice President Jejomar Binay. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
MANILA, Philippines—Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV is proposing to realign the P200 million budget from the Office of the Vice President to augment the intelligence funds of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
Vice President Jejomar Binay gave up last week the P200 million allocation of his office intended for locally funded projects to avoid speculations that it was also a “pork barrel” fund.
Trillanes then proposed that the amount be used instead to augment the intelligence funds of the AFP and the PNP.
An additional P100 million, he said, should be given each to the AFP and PNP as part of their intelligence funds.
“The security situation in Mindanao highlights the need to augment the military and police intelligence funds,” Trillanes said in a statement on Tuesday, referring to the ongoing standoff in Zamboanga City between government forces and members of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).
Trillanes, a former navy officer, is chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, principal author of the Revised AFP Modernization law and proponent of bills increasing the benefits of military and police personnel.