Confidential, intel funds not for all gov't offices, says Makati Mayor Binay

For Makati Mayor Abigail Binay, not all government offices should be allocated confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) under the national budget. 

“No,” Binay told Super Radyo dzBB’s Ikaw Na Ba? Senatorial Interviews Monday when asked if all state offices should be provided with the controversial CIF. 

“Aanhin naman nila ‘yun? Hindi lahat ng ahensya, kailangan (Where will they use that? Not all agencies need CIF),” she said.

Binay, who is running for senator in the 2025 May polls, said the Makati City government has intelligence funds, which they use to maintain peace and order in the city. 

“Sa amin sa Makati City, kailangan ang intel funds. Kasi tatandaan po natin, kami ang financial center. We have over 60 embassies at mga ambassadors na nakatira sa aming lugar kaya importante po ang peace and order. Importante sa amin ang intel funds,” she said. 

(We use our intelligence funds in Makati to maintain peace and order. We are a financial center and we house over 60 embassies and ambassadors. It is important for us to safeguard peace.)

A Joint Circular No. 2015-01 of the Commission on Audit (COA) identified confidential funds as allocations that civilian government agencies use for surveillance activities supporting their mandate while intelligence funds are used by the uniformed, military personnel, and intelligence practitioners in sourcing information related to national security.

In 2024, some government agencies including the Office of the Vice President (OVP), and Department of Education (DepEd), then under Vice President Sara Duterte, were criticized for alleged misuse of the public funds. 

“Ang tanong ay hindi ang propriety of the intel funds or the confi funds, it’s the liquidation (The issue is the liquidation and not propriety),” the mayor added.

Preventive care 

Meanwhile, Binay said the national government should refocus the country’s healthcare system to preventive care instead of curative, adding it would incur less expenses. 

“Naniniwala ako na ang mas importante ay preventive healthcare rather than curative dahil mas mura. Kung mas madalas nagpapa-check up ang isang tao, mas konting hospital beds ang kailngan mo dahil konti ang nagkakasakit,” she said. 

(I believe that preventive healthcare is more important than curative because we will need less hospital beds if the public is healthy and has regular check-ups.)

“I think we should refocus our approach when it comes to health. Mas maganda ang prevention than cure. Hindi 'yung solution ang pagdadagdag ng beds. It’s adding more doctors, and having access to free healthcare service,” Binay added.

(I think we should refocus our approach when it comes to health. Prevention is better than cure. Adding beds is not the solution but having more doctors and access to free healthcare service.)

Binay previously said she would advocate for the institutionalization of some of the programs and practices from Makati City on a nationwide scale if elected senator. This includes the education and healthcare systems of the city. 

She likewise said she would push for the use of nuclear energy, adding renewable power source would drive down oil and electricity prices. It  would also lessen the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. 

However, Binay said an expert admitted the use of nuclear power in the Philippines “would not happen anytime soon”.  

“Kami ngayon sa Makati, nagpu-push kami for the installation of solar panels….Lahat ng schools, government offices, nilagyan na namin,” the mayor said. 

(We push for solar energy in Makati. We installed solar panels in schools and government offices.)

Binay, daughter of former Vice President Jejomar "Jojo" Binay Sr., won as Makati mayor in 2016 and was reelected in 2019 and 2022. 

The Constitution allows a mayor to have three consecutive terms only.

She took an oath as member of the Nationalist People's Coalition in May 2024. —AOL, GMA Integrated News

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