Ni NOEL ABUEL
Wala nang planong hilingin pa ni Vice President Sara Duterte na ibalik ang P500 milyong confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) na nakapaloob sa panukalang 2024 national budget na tinanggal ng Kamara.
“We are in receipt of a statement from the Vice President, we discussed earlier and according to her, the OVP can only propose a budget to support the safe implementation of its PAPs (projects, activities, programs) to alleviate poverty and promote the general welfare of each and every Filipino family,” sa binasang sulat ni Senador Sonny Angara, na nag-sponsor sa pondo ng OVP mula sa tanggapan ni Duterte.
“Nonetheless, they will no longer pursue the CIF and the reason why is because it is seen to be divisive and as the Vice President, she swore an oath to keep the country peaceful and strong,” sabi pa ni Angara.
Una nito, inusisa ni Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimente ang OVP kung isusulong pa rin nito ang pagbabalik ng P500M CIF nito na tinanggal ng mga kongresista.
Aniya, ngayong tinatalakay sa plenaryo ng Senado ang pondo ng OVP ay dapat na itong gawin upang mapag-aralan kung ibabalik ang CIF o hindi.
Dahil dito, pinuri ni Pimentel ang OVP, tulad ng Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), at iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan na tumanggi na humingi ng CIF.
“I commend the Vice President and the office of the vice president,” sabi pa nito.
Samantala, sinabi naman ni Senador Francis Tolentino, na wala na sa kamay ng OVP kung nais pa nitong ibalik ang P500M CIF nito kung saan nasa kamay na aniya ng mga senador at kongresista kung ibibigay ito o tuluyang aalisin.
“Budget proposals coming from the House to Senate, the Senate can, may propose, or concur with amendments. It’s no longer lodge with the OVP and the decision should come from these chamber,” sabi ni Tolentino.
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