Leody de Guzman wants confidential, intel funds for civilian agencies removed

Labor leader and senatorial aspirant Leody de Guzman wants to remove confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for civilian agencies, describing this as the new source of pork barrel for corrupt public officials.

Speaking on Super Radyo dzBB's "Ikaw Na Ba?" senatorial interviews series, De Guzman said Wednesday that if elected senator in the May polls, one of his priority measures would be to propose the CIF prohibition.

"Ang una kong gagawin, gagawa agad ako ng bill na ipagbawal na ang confidential fund kasi… sa totoo, corruption 'yan. 'Yang ang kapalit ng PDAF noon," De Guzman said, referring to the Priority Development Assistance Fund.

(The first thing I would do is to file a bill banning confidential funds because... it is really a source of corruption. It has replaced the PDAF.)

"Kasi hindi puwedeng kuwentahin, hindi puwedeng tanungin… Dapat wala na 'yan. Dapat transparent ang lahat ng pera na ginagastos ng gobyerno dahil 'yan ay pera ng bayan," he said.

(It cannot be accounted. Questions cannot be raised about it... This should be scrapped. All expenditures of state funds should be transparent because that comes from the country's coffers.)

De Guzman also questioned the need to allocate the CIF for civilian departments as he cited the existence of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and intelligence funds for the police and military.

"Mayroon na tayong NICA. Mayroong intelligence fund ang police at military. Dapat du'n ibigay at hindi mga civilian na mga tao," he added.

(We already have the NICA. The police and military have their own intelligence funds. Those funds should be given to these agencies instead of civilians.)

Over the past months, lawmakers in Congress have been at odds with Vice President Sara Duterte and officials of offices under her leadership, namely the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd), over the alleged irregularities in the use of the confidential funds.

De Guzman ran for president in Eleksyon 2025 with a platform anchored on workers' rights.

He reiterated his call for the passage of a legislated wage hike and the implementation of a wealth tax for billionaires should he secure a Senate seat in the upcoming elections.

The labor leader also renewed his plan to push for a direct democracy and for the banning of political dynasties in the country.

"Kung magkakapuwesto ako, puspusan nating itutulak na ang kahilingan ng mga manggagawa na tumaas ang kanilang sahod ay maisakatuparan," he said.

(If I win, I will push for higher wages of Filipino workers.)

"Ang hinihinigi namin, dapat madagdagan ng P750 ang sahod ng mangagawa. Sa ngayon, ang tinatanngap ng mga mangagagwa ay P645 lamang sa Metro Manila. Sa probinsya, napakalayo ng sahod… 'Yung P750 sapat para matugunan ang sinasabi ng gobyerno na ang living wage dapat ay nasa P1,207," De Guzman added.

(We're urging for a P750 increase. Right now, workers in Metro Maila receive P645 but that's lower in distant provinces. That P750 is just enough to comply with the living wage the government set.)

De Guzman is affiliated with the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP). He is a labor rights activist known for his pro-poor and pro-workers stances. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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