Duterte wants hefty hike in spy funds; but why? asks Lagman

What unforeseen event is President Duterte preparing for by asking for a P2-billion confidential and intelligence fund, and P5.5-billion contingency fund for 2017?

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Wednesday said the inordinate increase in the President’s budget was “alarming in the face of extrajudicial and shortcut procedures employed by the present administration in pursuing its announced priorities.”

The President is carrying out a costly war against illegal drugs and has promised rewards to police and civilians who nail down or provide information for the capture of drug lords.

300% increase

Based on its proposal to Congress, the Office of the President (OP) is asking for a 300 percent increase in confidential and intelligence funds from P500 million in 2016 to P2 billion in 2017.

Lagman said that the intelligence funds were vulnerable to abuse because the President does not have to liquidate or report to the Commission on Audit how these funds were spent.

“Due to the suspect nature of confidential and intelligence funds, the Executive must be judicious or prudent in proposing huge appropriations for these expense items,” said Lagman.

On top of this, the OP is also asking for an increase in the contingency fund by 120 percent from P2.5 billion this year to P5.5 billion in 2017.

Lagman said this appeared to be the highest contingency fund, a lump sum appropriation, in Malacañang’s record books.

“Since contingencies by their nature are not predetermined, the Duterte administration may be expecting an avalanche of contingencies,” said Lagman.