‘Intel fund rules clear but need amendments to curb irregularities’

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday said the rules governing confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) are clear but need to be amended because some individuals allegedly find ways to circumvent them.

The Commission on Audit (COA), during the House Committee on Appropriations’ budget deliberations on Tuesday, said it is eyeing amendments to Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which sets the guidelines on the entitlement, release, use, reporting, and audit of CIF.

READ: Castro to Padilla: Heroes fought for country, not for confidential funds

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Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, however, said the joint circular already clearly lays out the rules governing the use of such funds.

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“Ito naman po ay malinaw, kung kayo naman po ay susunod sa polisiya at sa rules at wala naman kayong balak na manloko para sa pondo at ito naman lahat ay gagamitin ninyo para sa ikaaangat at para sa interes ng bayan at taumbayan, hindi naman problema iyong rules; nasa tao iyan,” she said at a briefing.

(This is clear: if you follow the policies and rules, and you have no intention of misusing the funds, and everything will be used for the betterment and interest of the nation and the people, then the rules should not be a problem. It depends on the person.)

“Pero dahil sa mga tao na may mga balak na gamitin ang kanilang katalinuhan, ang kanilang knowledge or skills na mapaikot ang rules, doon nagkakaroon ng problema, kaya kinakailangan pang amyendahan para hindi na makalusot ang mga panloloko,” Castro added.

(But when there are people who intend to use their intelligence, knowledge, or skills to circumvent the rules, that is where the problem arises. That is why the rules need to be further amended so fraudulent acts can no longer slip through the cracks.)

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Meanwhile, Castro blasted Sen. Robin Padilla’s comparison between the aliases used in confidential-fund receipts of the Office of the Vice President and the pseudonyms of Philippine heroes, saying the heroes fought for the country, while the others allegedly conceal their identities for money.

“Heroes of the past likely fought for the country without expecting payment. However, informants today do not seem willing to act without being paid,” the Palace official said in the same briefing.

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“We know that the heroes of the past were real people, even when they used pseudonyms. Today, however, regarding the receipts that have been presented, we do not know if the individuals involved are real people or merely ghosts — or ghost beneficiaries,” she said. /gsg