Sep 27, 2023 - 06:45
By philstar.com

Political party leaders pinalilipat confidential, intel funds sa West Philippine Sea defense | Pilipino Star Ngayon

MANILA, Philippines — Nagkaisa ang sari-saring political party leaders sa Kamara na mailipat ang kontrobersyal na confidential at intelligence funds sa mga ahensya ng gobyernong nagdepensa sa West Philippine Sea.

Ito ang saad ng Nationalist People's Coalition, Lakas-CMD, Nacionalista Party, PDP-Laban, National Unity Party at Party-list Coalition Foundation Inc. sa isang joint statement nitong Miyerkules.

"We, the respective heads of political parties in the House of Representatives, view with serious concern the installation of a floating barrier by the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the Southeast of Bajo de Masinloc Shoal," sabi sa pahayag.

"This action not only impedes the rights of livelihoods of our Filipino fishermen but also disrupts the prevailing atmosphere of regional peace and collaboration."

"Given recent provocative incidents in the contested areas, we have decided to reallocate — as part of the budget process — confidential and intelligence funds [CIF] to other agencies chifly responsible for intelligence and surveillance."

Kabilang sa gusto malipatan ng CIF ang sumusunod:

National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA)
National Security Council (NSC)
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)

Inilabas ang panawagang ito isang araw matapos ilinaw ni PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS), CG Commodore Jay Tarriela na P118.7 milyon lang ang pinagsamang CIF ng Coast Guard simula para noong 2006.

Mas maliit 'di hamak ang pondo ito kaysa sa P125 milyong confidential funds ng Office of Vice President, bagay na sinasabing inubos noong 2022 sa loob lang ng 11 araw.