Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 16) — A lawmaker appealed for the restoration of the confidential funds of the Department of Education (DepEd) as well as the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), but said he will not insist if the majority of his Senate colleagues would decide against it.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former Philippine National Police chief during the Duterte administration, told reporters on Monday that DepEd will have a more targeted response to rebel recruitment in high schools.
“Pag binigay mo sa PNP, AFP, general ang purpose niyan. Buong insurgency problem, iyan ang tutukan nila. Pero pag doon sa DepEd kasi nakatutok sa recruitment ng mga bata specifically. Sino bang ahensya ang dapat magtatrabaho dito? It’s not Armed Forces, it’s not PNP. It should be DepEd dahil nasa turf nila iyan, nasa loob ng classroom,” he said.
[Translation: If you give it to the PNP, AFP, it will be for general purpose. They will focus on the entire insurgency problem. But if you give it to the DepEd because the focus is on the recruitment of children. Which agency is supposed to work in this. It’s not the Armed Forces, it’s not the PNP. It should be DepEd because it’s on their turf, it’s inside the classroom.]Dela Rosa also said he and other senators agreed that the DICT should be given confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) to fight cyber crimes.However, dela Rosa said he will consult with colleagues first to make sure he will not be fighting “a lost cause” in plenary.
Under the National Expenditure Program submitted by the budget department, a ₱150-million confidential fund has been proposed for DepEd and ₱300 million for DICT.
The two agencies, along with the Office of the Vice President, Department of Agriculture, and Department of Foreign Affairs were stripped of confidential funds under the latest version of the budget bill in the House of Representatives.
