Lawmaker eyes special panel on CIF use

MARIKINA 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo on Monday pushed for the creation of a special oversight committee, in a bid to increase transparency in government agencies' use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs).

Quimbo, senior vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, also sought the backing of her colleagues for her proposal.

«I believe that public funds should be spent for the nation's development,» she said. «During the debate on the General Principles, I specifically mentioned the opportunity for Congress to increase transparency in the use of confidential and intelligence funds… with a proposal to create a unique, special oversight committee.»

During Monday's budget deliberations, she also proposed that the committee shall include the House speaker, three members of the House majority and one member of the House minority.

«The special committee shall have the privilege of complete access to the reports submitted to Congress under joint circular 2015-001,» she pointed out.

Currently, only the President, the Senate president and the House speaker have access to information pertaining to CIFs.