Mindanao lawmakers support realignment of P1.23B confidential funds
CONGRESSMEN from Mindanao have expressed support to the decision of the leadership of the House of Representatives to transfer a total of P1.23 billion in confidential funds to agencies that provide security to the country.
According to Davao del Sur Lone District Rep. John Tracy Cagas and Misamis Oriental Rep. Christian S. Unabia, it is clear that the House of Representatives has the power to change the proposed budget to make sure that it is consistent with the needs of the country.
Rep. Cagas added that transferring of funds by the Chamber is not new and it is happening repeatedly every year.
“I am sure that we stand on solid constitutional ground in making adjustments in the budget. We are ready to face any challenge in the proper forum,” Cagas insisted.
Meanwhile, Rep. Unabia insisted that the House did nothing illegal in transferring the confidential funds of some agencies to the national security agencies, especially since there is tension in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“I maintain my belief that the House of Representatives has done nothing wrong in realigning confidential funds in the 2024 national budget. It is the constitutional mandate of Congress to exercise the power of the purse. And boosting the budget of national security agencies is a responsible way of spending public funds,” said Unabia.
“I believe this is a prudent way of allocating public funds, which is to spend it on programs that protect the Filipino people’s livelihood. For me, the decision to realign confidential funds is just based on an assessment of who needs it more,” added Unabia.
It can be recalled that the House received a lot of criticisms after realigning the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
Some of the said funds went to the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, National Security Council, Philippine Coast Guard, and the Department of Transportation, who will repair the Pag-asa Island airport, which is located in the WPS.
One of those who spoke against the Chamber was former President Rodrigo Duterte who defended the existence of confidential funds of his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, who is also the DepEd secretary, and accused the House to still have ‘pork barrel.’
Reps. Ace Barbers (Surigao del Norte), Cheeno Miguel Almario (Davao Oriental), Maricar Zamora (Davao de Oro) and Francisco Jose “Bingo” Matugas (Surigao del Norte) have expressed support to the House and defended it against Duterte’s allegations.
They said that House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez is running the House well and that the House no longer has a pork barrel fund.
“As one of the senior members of the House, I stand by the institution’s integrity and strict adherence to the law,” said Cong. Barbers.
Almario pointed out that the Commission on Audit (COA) itself said that it found no irregularity in the use of the Chamber’s funds.
“Our records, which are open to public scrutiny, are a testament to our dedication to fiscal responsibility and transparency,” Almario added.
Meanwhile, an a Facebook post, Zamora said that she fully supports the House leadership.
“Our legislative body has consistently demonstrated a commitment to transparency and accountability. I am proud to share that the House accounts have remained transparent, and we have received no disallowance from COA,” according to Matugas.
