Intelligence and confidential funds

“With the action of the House, however, let’s hope we have seen the last of this sordid episode”

All the news about intelligence and confidential funds have really opened a can of worms.

It gives the impression that every instrument of government is involved in intelligence work.

It also seems to give credence to what some people are saying: Join the government and enjoy the perks of unaudited expenditure of government funds.

It reminds me of one posting from our senior Viber group saying “if joining politics becomes a lot more profitable than business, then something is terribly wrong with our country.”

This issue of intelligence funds became a hot topic because of the amount of money being mentioned and whether the offices getting them are entitled to it.

Since it is all over the news already, let us take that report about Davao City wherein about P2.697 billion was allegedly spent for intelligence work over six years.

If we do the math, that will come to about P1,231,506 million a day.

That is a staggering amount of money for intelligence however anybody tries to look at it.

And from what has been coming out in the papers, it is not only Davao City. It just so happened that it apparently spent the largest amount.

Intelligence and confidential funds, according to the Secretary of the DILG, is authorized by law but added that it should not be abused.

I tried to look for the specific law authorizing government agencies and local government units to have intelligence budgets but could not find it.

What I saw was the January 8, 2015 joint circular among COA, DILG, DBM, DND and other agencies on entitlements, how intelligence funds should be spent and the liquidation process.

This appears to be the basis for agencies to have intelligence and confidential funds.

From my own experience in government, however, this has been going on much earlier.

But back then, not all agencies in the executive branch were authorized intelligence and confidential funds but local government units did have intelligence funds but the amounts were very much smaller than what is being mentioned today.

Although the report on the intelligence expenditure of Davao City and other big LGUs like