Vice President Sara Duterte’s proposed allocation of P500 million for confidential funds is facing intense scrutiny, as critics point out the stark disparity between this significant sum and the meager P10 million budget proposed for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The proposed budget for the PCG, tasked with patrolling and guarding the nation’s naval territory, particularly the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea, has come under scrutiny, igniting a heated debate in Congress amidst escalating tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, a vocal critic of the inadequate funding, expressed her concerns, stating, “The P10-million proposed intelligence budget for 2024 — the same amount since 2009 — is measly and hinders the agency from effectively keeping watch over the disputed waterway.”
Comparatively, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is facing a proposed budget of P2.385 billion for 2024, with P500 million, or 21%, allocated for confidential funds. This allocation, however, has raised eyebrows and led to contentious debates during recent congressional deliberations.
During the deliberations, Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos swiftly moved to terminate the hearing, invoking “parliamentary courtesy” to avoid scrutiny of the vice president’s intelligence funds and their intended use. The session came to an abrupt end in less than 15 minutes after 21 committee members voted to close the proceedings.
Amidst the budgetary clash, Hontiveros-Baraquel suggested a more substantial allocation of intelligence funds for the PCG, urging senators to consult with the agency to determine a “respectable” amount. She emphasized the need to bolster the PCG’s capabilities to deter China’s aggression in the South China Sea.
The urgency for increased funding becomes evident in light of recent confrontations between the Philippine Coast Guard and China’s military vessels, which involved the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels.
The PCG strongly condemned these actions, asserting, “The Philippine Coast Guard strongly condemns the CCG’s dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels escorting the indigenous boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.”
The incident unfolded on August 5 as the Coast Guard escorted boats laden with essential supplies, including food, water, and fuel, destined for military personnel stationed on BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. The Philippine military also voiced concerns about the increased presence of Chinese Coast Guard and fishing vessels in the disputed waters, signaling potential threats.
While the PCG grapples with its budgetary challenges, questions about the OVP’s confidential funds persist.
ACT Teachers Representative France Castro called on Duterte to provide a detailed breakdown of her office’s P125 million confidential funds for 2022.
Castro emphasized, “On the issue of the P125 million confidential fund (CF) of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2022, we must focus on the facts first and ask for accountability. Talks of impeachment are premature.” She warned that impeachment could be on the horizon if the funds were reallocated without congressional concurrence.
During a budget hearing conducted by the Commission on Audit (CoA), it was revealed that an additional allotment of P125 million for confidential expenses for the OVP had surfaced during the second semester of the calendar year 2022. This discovery raised concerns about the allocation’s legitimacy.
Former Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo had not requested or received any confidential funds for her office in fiscal year 2022, in contrast to Vice President Duterte, who assumed her position on June 30, 2022, as noted by Castro.
As debates over budgets and confidential funds intensify, some netizens have raised speculations regarding the intended use of the Vice President’s intelligence funds, hinting at potential surveillance activities targeting schoolchildren suspected of being involved with drugs.
The Daily Netizen 