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A House leader on Wednesday affirmed Congress’ “power of the purse” after the Lower Chamber realigned P1.23 billion in confidential funds.
Lawmakers from Eastern Visayas, Cebu and Bohol also joined their colleagues in defending the House of Representatives and Speaker Martin Romualdez from critics opposed to the scrapping of the confidential funds.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, in particular, criticized the House and threatened ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro after lawmakers stripped away P650 million in confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) originally allocated to offices headed by his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, and moving them to agencies that have actual national security functions.
“A determined 19th Congress resolutely led by Speaker Martin Romualdez felt and heard the clamor of the people to prioritize the use of some available confidential funds for emergencies, calamities, and crisis situations, and not for the restriction of individual freedoms and rights,” said Aklan Rep. Teodorico Haresco Jr., vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations.
“Even in the past, the confidential funds of the executive branch of government have been meticulously and conscientiously decided by Congress. It is simply a matter of checks and balances indicative of a healthy democracy,” he added.
Haresco reiterated the responsibility and authority to protect the country’s national security primarily belongs to security forces, which should then get CIF.
“We have faith in the wisdom of the Speaker and of the august chambers of Congress to sensibly represent the will of our constituents and practice prudence and diligence in crafting the national budget for the welfare of the Filipino people,” Haresco said.
As this developed, 12 lawmakers from Eastern Visayas issued a joint statement upholding Romualdez’s leadership.
“We, the District Congressmen of Eastern Visayas, hereby express our unwavering support for Speaker Martin Romualdez and his exceptional leadership of the House of Representatives,” the joint statement read.
“Throughout his tenure as Speaker, Speaker Romualdez has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to serving the Filipino people and advancing the legislative agenda of our nation. His strong leadership has been instrumental in steering the House towards productive and collaborative sessions, leading to the passage of vital legislation that addresses the diverse needs of our constituents in Eastern Visayas and beyond.”
The statement was signed by Leyte Reps. Lolita Javier, Anna Victoria Veloso-Tuazon, Richard Gomez, and Carl Nicolas Cari; Samar Reps. Stephen James Tan and Michael Reynolds Tan; Southern Leyte Reps. Luz Mercado and Christopherson Yap; Eastern Samar Rep. Maria Fe Abunda; Northern Samar Reps. Paul Daza and Harris Christopher Ongchuan; and Biliran Rep. Gerardo Espina Jr.
Some 12 lawmakers from the Cebu bloc and all three representatives from Bohol also hailed Romualdez’s “exemplary leadership and dedication in advancing the nation’s legislation, programs, and projects, and promoting the welfare of every Filipino.”
“We, the Cebu bloc, including representatives from the province of Bohol, stand firm and united in the House of Representatives under the dynamic and transparent leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, towards the upliftment of the lives of the Filipino people,” the statement read.
The House recently decided to divert some P1.23 billion in confidential funds from several government agencies to efforts to boost security in the WPS. Among the agencies that were stripped of confidential funds are the Office of the Vice President (P500 million) and the Department of Education (P150 million).
The confidential funds were realigned, among others, to these government agencies: National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (P300 million); National Security Council (P100 million); Philippine Coast Guard (P200 million); Department of Transportation (P351 million); DepEd’s Government Assistance to Students and Teachers (P150 million); DICT’s Cybercrime Prevention, Investigation and Coordination Program (P25 million); Department of Foreign Affairs operations (P30 million); Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ MOOE (P30 million); and Office of the Ombudsman’s MOOE (P50.4 million). — Maricel Cruz
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