Lacson: Intel funds should only be allocated to intel agencies

The controversial intelligence funds should be exclusively allocated to state agencies involved in intelligence operations, former senator Ping Lacson said Monday. 

Interviewed over Super Radyo dzBB’s Ikaw Na Ba? The Senatorial Interviews, Lacson also pushed for a higher budget for the intelligence community. 

“Ito personal na opinyon ko. Dapat ang intelligence fund ibigay na lang natin sa mga members ng intelligence community,” said Lacson. 

(This is my opinion. The intelligence fund should be given to the members of the intelligence community.)

“‘Yung mga line agencies na nangangailangan ng intelligence information, i-tap na lang ang mga intel units para supplyan sila ng intelligence na kailangan nila kasi wala naman silang training para magsagawa ng intelligence projects o intelligence operations. Sayang ang pondo,” he added. 

(If a line agency needs intelligence information, they should just tap the intel units because the former does not have training to conduct intelligence projects or intelligence operations. The funds would just go to waste.)

In making his Senate comeback, Lacson vowed to “continue being a vanguard of the national budget”.

Asked if a legislation is needed to prevent civilian agencies from availing intelligence funds, he said: “Ang batas na sumasaklaw diyan ay ang General Appropriations Act.  'Wag natin bigyan ng pondo”.

(The law covering that is the GAA. The solution is to not give them the fund.)

“Dagdagan natin ng pondo ang PSAF, NICA, intelligence group ng PNP, buong intelligence community. Sa ganun, sila na ang gaganap ng role at sila ang mag-supply ng intelligence na requirements ng line agencies”.

(Instead of allocating the intelligence fund to them, augment the budget of PSAF, NICA, and intelligence group of the PNP so they can supply the intelligence requirement of the line agencies.)

However, Lacson said the Office of the President (OP) should be included in the list of agencies with intelligence funds. 

“Ang OP kailangan may pinanghahawakan din kasi pwede sila ang mag-augment dun sa mga intelligence units ng intelligence funds,” he added. 

(The OP should be given intelligence funds because they can augment the budget of the intelligence units.)

EDCA site in WPS

The former senator said there should be an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) site in Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as China’s aggressions in the contested waters continue. 

“Dapat sana may EDCA site sa Pag-asa Island (There should be an EDCA site in Pag-asa Island),” he said.

“Ang tinitingnan ko sa WPS, hindi kaya banggain ang China. Ang kailangan ma-maintain natin ang tinatawag na balance of power. Eh hindi natin kaya ibalanse ang power…so aasa tayo ngayon sa more militarily-strong countries like US, Australia, Japan, Canada na ang interest ay i-protect ang sea lanes,” he said. 

(We cannot go to war against China so we should maintain the balance of power. But that is not happening yet so we are relying to more military-strong countries like US, Australia, Japan, Canada that wanted to protect the sea lanes.)

Signed in 2014, EDCA grants US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, allowing them to build facilities and preposition equipment, aircraft, and vessels. There are currently nine EDCA sites in the country:  Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan; Basa Air Base in Pampanga; Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu.

Other EDCA sites are in Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro City; Naval Base Camilo Osias in Sta Ana, Cagayan; Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan.

In May 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. denied the EDCA sites will be used as a staging post for any kind of military action.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

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