Press Release
October 26, 2008

ROXAS: REVIEW SYSTEM FOR USE OF INTEL FUNDS IN 2009 BUDGET
PNP EURO GENERAL ISSUE SHOWS POTENTIAL FOR ABUSE

In the wake of the raging controversy over the so-called "euro general" issue, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today said Congress must put in place a system of checks and balances in the proposed 2009 budget to ensure proper use of P1.12 billion in confidential and intelligence funds for the use of the President, the police and the military.

"Malinaw dito sa euro general issue na maaaring abusuhin ang paggamit ng intelligence funds. Ito ay pera ng taumbayan at hindi pang-garanatsa ng mga opisyal at ng kanilang pamilya. Dapat ay maglagay na tayo ng sistema para hindi na ito maulit (It's clear in this euro general issue that the use of intelligence funds can be abused. This is the people's money and not for the leisure of officials and their family. We should put in place a system so it won't be repeated)," said Roxas.

Under the proposed 2009 General Appropriations Act, the P1.12 billion in intelligence fund include:

  • P500 million for the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission.

  • P150 million for the Office of the President.

  • P6 million for the Office of the Vice-President.

  • P218.98 million for the DILG-PNP Intelligence Services.

  • Another P28.57 million for the DILG-PNP Intelligence Services.

  • P22.47 million for DILG-PNP-Investigation Services.

  • P8 million for the DOJ-BOI.

  • P5 million for the DOJ-PCGG.

  • P17 million for the DND-Office of the Secretary-International Security Operations.

  • P8 million for the DND-OSEC-Territorial Defense.

  • P8 million for the DND-OSEC-International Defense.

  • P24 million for the DND-AFP-Army.

  • P6.24 million for the DND-AFP-Air Force.

  • P24.74 million for the DND-AFP-Navy.

  • P63.64 million for the DND-AFP-GHQ.

  • P31.24 million for the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

  • P1 million for the National Security Council.

Under budget laws and regulations issued by the Commission on Audit, only the President can authorize the release and use of intelligence funds. Their use is also not subject to audit by COA, except by the Chairman of the COA.

"Panahon na para pag-aralan ng Kongreso kung ano ang tamang sistema na hindi ito maabuso (It is time for Congress to study what system to put in place to prevent its abuse)," Roxas said.

While agreeing to keep the confidentiality of the use of intelligence funds, the Ilonggo senator insisted that the case of former PNP comptroller Deputy Director General Eliseo De La Paz showed anew the potentials for its abuse by government officials.

"Nakakapanggalaiti na ginagamit pa ng liderato ng PNP ang proteksyon na ibinibigay ng batas sa mga pagkalkal sa paggamit ng intelligence funds para lang pagtakpan ang isang malaking pagkakamali ng isang mataas na opisyal nila. Hindi ito ang inaasahan ng taumbayan sa mga nasa pamahalaan (It riles me to think that the PNP leadership is using the protection accorded against open auditing of the use of intelligence funds to cover up for one of their own. This is not what the people expect from the government)." Roxas said.

Roxas said the claim of PNP chief Director General Jesus Versoza that the P6.93 million seized from De la Paz and his wife after attending a Moscow conference of the Interpol came from the PNP's intelligence funds was an attempt to shield the former PNP comptroller from further public scrutiny.

"I agree that we should keep the use of intelligence funds confidential, but Congress cannot allow the abuse of executive discretion especially in De la Paz' case," he said.

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