Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 2) — The Makabayan bloc said Monday it will soon file a proposal to rationalize the joint circular regarding guidelines on the utilization and reporting of confidential and intelligence funds.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said this will be specifically on Joint Circular No. 2015-01, or the guidelines on the entitlement, release, use, reporting, and audit of confidential and/or intelligence funds.
“The Makabayan bloc is drafting now a proposal, a proposed law so that there would be a cap, there would be a limit, ma-rationalize ito at magkaroon ng (this will be rationalized and this will have) more transparency and accountability in using the confidential and intelligence funds,” she said.
The lawmaker said this will be an \”improved version\” of the joint circular, which they plan to file in November. However, she did not mention specific details about their proposal.
This comes as Castro also urged the Commission on Audit to investigate the alleged ₱2.697-billion confidential funds of Davao City for the past six years, when Vice President Sara Duterte was its mayor.
“Imagine more than a million a day spent for the confidential fund in a city, so I just wonder paano at saan ito ginastos (how and where were these spent),” the lawmaker said. “We want the COA to review if the city government of Davao City led by Vice President Sara Duterte by then ay talagang (really) they followed the guidelines.”
She said the funds should have been used for other “fruitful endeavors” like allowances for teachers in Davao City. Castro said then-Mayor Duterte rejected the call of teachers for a city allowance.
Duterte’s camp has yet to issue a statement on the matter.
