Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10) — Senator Koko Pimentel said he is willing to settle for a re-enacted 2024 national budget if the Supreme Court declares the confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in some agencies, including the Office of the President (OP), unconstitutional.
The minority leader made the remark after suggesting that lawyers could question the legality of CIF in the Supreme Court, adding that he is willing to help file a petition against the OP.
“Parang walang budget so ang mangyari ang principles ng re-enacted budget ang mag a-apply (It will seem like there’s no budget so the principles of a re-enacted will apply)… If the result is to nullify the act of the majority who are not willing to follow the constitution, then so be it. Yan ang tamang effect.”
Under the Constitution, the budget of the preceding year is carried over in the new fiscal year if Congress fails to pass the General Appropriations Bill. This means only the same programs and allocation for employee salaries from the preceding year will be authorized under the national budget. There will be now new expenditure item, including projects.Pimentel said if the CIF is declared unconstitutional, the proposed national budget for 2024 will be deemed ineffective.The senator said this should correct flaws such as the president’s CIF.
“Mali, wala sa lugar ang pag grant ng intelligence funds sa OP. Siya naman ay in control of the executive branch, maraming ahensya sa ilalim niya na merong intelligence funds,” Pimentel said.
[Translation: It’s wrong, the grant of intelligence funds to the OP is out of place. He is in control of the executive branch, there are many agencies under him that have intelligence funds.]
“Ang OP wala na pong panahon yan (The OP has no time) for intelligence work, but it will be the consumer, the user of the intelligence, gathered by the intelligence community,” he added.
Pimentel said he is willing to help lawyers file the petition. He volunteered to file one himself, but said he cannot do it alone.
