CNN Philippines’ Melissa Lopez contributed to this report.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) — Undersecretary Eliseo Rio, Jr., who earlier questioned the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s multimillion-peso confidential fund, now says the money was used properly.
Rio on Friday issued a joint statement with DICT Secretary Gringo Honasan saying “[we] have mutually agreed to settle our differences” – in a bid to put to rest questions surrounding the DICT’s integrity.
“To set the record straight, Undersecretary Rio never mentioned any anomaly in the disbursement of the Confidential Expense of the DICT,” their two-page joint statement read. It said Rio’s statements about the need for the confidential and intelligence fund may have been misinterpreted.
Earlier, Rio said the former senator now DICT chief had secured cash advances worth ₱300 million, charged against the ₱400 million earmarked for “confidential, intelligence and extraordinary expenses” of the agency in 2019. A copy of a memorandum from the Commission on Audit obtained by CNN Philippines showed that the amount was indeed released to Honasan in three tranches worth ₱100 million each in a span of six weeks from November to December last year.
Among the reasons Rio cited for his resignation early this month is the need for DICT to have its own intelligence and surveillance funds — something which should be left in the hands of military and police, he said.
In the joint statement, however, Rio agreed that the disbursement was “lawful and legitimate” and used solely for the purpose of protecting the country’s cybersecurity and national security. Rio and Honasan stressed that it is part of DICT’s mandate is to protect the privacy, security and confidentiality in the Philippines’ cyber space.
“The returns of the Confidential Fund investment will soon be felt by our people because it will move us even closer towards a cybersafe Philippines,” Rio and Honasan said.
READ: ₱300-M intel funds used to combat spike in cyber threats, DICT says
All procedures were followed in the allocation of the fund, which was a line item in the 2019 General Appropriations Act approved by Congress and President Rodrigo Duterte himself, their joint statement said.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senate Committee on National Defense and Security Chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson previously said they are seeking to look into allegations of fund misuse at the DICT by creating an oversight body that will review the usage of intelligence funds held by state agencies.
READ: Probe on Honasan possible as Senate, House seek oversight of intel funds
Malacañang said Duterte will observe the Senate hearing. “As to the allegations of Rio, he will listen to him when they meet but [there’s] no schedule yet,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a text message.
He added that Rio remains Undersecretary for Operations in the agency, since the President has not read his resignation letter but has already received it. Earlier, Rio said he was leaving his post due to some conflicting views with other officials in the agency, and that among the points of contention were the millions of pesos in confidential funds lodged with the agency.
The joint statement now says Rio’s resignation “was due to personal reasons, and not due to any rift with the Secretary, nor to any anomaly in the Confidential Expense.”
