Senator Risa Hontiveros is asking for changes to the rules that control how government agencies use confidential and intelligence funds (CIF). This comes after it was revealed that Vice President Sara Duterte’s office used P16 million of its confidential funds in just 11 days, specifically for paying for safe houses.
Hontiveros raised concerns about how these funds are being used, saying that such spending is “questionable” and can lead to abuse. She pointed out that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) have been using these funds in ways that don’t seem transparent or clear.
The P16 million spent by the OVP in such a short time is concerning, according to Hontiveros. She explained that the receipts provided for the spending were not official, but just simple acknowledgment receipts, which don’t have enough information to explain how the money was really used.
Hontiveros also mentioned another instance where the DepEd used P15 million from confidential funds in 2023. This money was reportedly spent with approval from military officials to pay informants, but again, the details were unclear.
Because of these problems, Hontiveros is calling for stricter rules on how these funds should be spent. She wants the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to update their guidelines to make sure that all spending is well-documented and fully accountable.
In response to the concerns about its spending, the Office of the Vice President has said that the investigation into its use of the confidential funds is not necessary because they have already provided the needed information during budget talks. They also argued that the inquiry into the matter doesn’t meet the constitutional rules for legislative investigations.
