Judicious use of CIF sought

MANILA, Philippines — In view of the public outcry for more transparency, the rules governing utilization of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) should be “tightened” to prevent politicians from wasting hard-earned taxpayers’ money, a militant lawmaker suggested over the weekend.

“We have to have an improvement, perhaps, on the joint circular with regard to the submission of documentary evidence of payment. Second: who are entitled to CIFs? We cannot just put there any other agency,” Rep. France Castro said, in reference to the Department of Budget and Management-Commission on Audit Joint Circular (DBM-COA JC) 2015-01, which provides guidelines on the entitlement, release, use, reporting and audit of CIFs.

“This is because they get these CIFs in cash, just like the P125 million of Vice President Sara Duterte. It is obligated in cash, and at the disposal of the head of the agency where it is issued,” the ACT Teachers party-list congresswoman told hosts of “The Chiefs” on TV5.

Speaking to the four veteran journalist-hosts, Castro – a member of the three-member Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives – said they want to pass a bill where all expenses utilized by CIFs “should be accounted for and should not be kept secret.”

“As far as we are concerned, the JC seems wanting. We just hope that there will be a more definitive definition of CIFs, and on what kind of documents or papers are needed to be passed,” she said, revealing that only the leaders of both houses – Senate and House – have access to such.

Castro said she could not understand why Duterte, who is also the education secretary, declared that those opposing CIFs are anti-peace and are enemies of the state: “If you just want transparency, then how can you be an enemy of the state? I don’t know where she got that.”

The veteran opposition legislator nevertheless “partially” credited Speaker Martin Romualdez for stripping Duterte’s main office, along with the Department of Education (DepEd) that she concurrently heads, of CIFs amounting to a combined total of P650 million.

“About political will, yes we’re happy with the House leadership – partially. We had partial victory because people are now