VP Robredo slams Duterte admin's use of intel funds in 2019

Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday criticized the present administration's use of the P13-billion intel funds in 2019, saying that it could have been spent for the poor.

In her radio program, Robredo also pointed out that the huge amount did not undergo auditing.

“Gustong sabihin napakalaki noon. Ang dami nang mahihirap na puwedeng tulungan noon. Ang pinaka-controversial kasi sa intelligence fund hindi siya na-o-audit,” she said.

Based on the Commission on Audit’s (COA) 2019 Annual Financial Report (AFR), Duterte administration’s spending on confidential, intelligence, and extraordinary funds (CIF) reached over P13.46 billion in 2019.

COA's report also indicated that the total amount increased by P2.03 billion from 2018.

According to the COA report, the intelligence fund expenses accounted for P6.12 billion, while extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses reached P4.77 billion.

Confidential expenses, on the other hand, were recorded at P2.57 billion.

Also, 2019 was the fourth year in row that the Duterte administration's CIF spending surpassed the preceding year's.

From P3.6 billion in 2015, the CIF spending under the presidency of Duterte increased to P4.4 billion in 2016, more than doubled in 2017 with P9.4 billion, and hiked to P11.4 billion in 2018.

“Hindi nire-report na parang walang transparency,” Robredo said.

Robredo, meanwhile, clarified that the P547,000 intelligence funds reported under her office, which was the lowest among other offices, was part of a legal mandate.

“So gusto ko lang ito i-klaro na wala kaming intelligence fund. Kasi nakalagay kami ang lowest spender ng intelligence fund,” she said.

“’Yung P547,000 po, hindi po iyon intelligence fund. Iyon po ay nire-report namin, hindi kami nagde-decide kasi legally mandated,” she added.

Earlier, COA clarifies that the close to P4-billion spending of Congress in 2019 was not for intel but for miscellaneous expenses. —LBG, GMA News