Amid the investigation into alleged confidential fund (CF) misuse by the Office of the Vice President (OVP), other government agencies found to have violated the rules should also be held accountable.
Confidential funds are subject to specific conditions because they are intended for circumstances where certain expenditures cannot appropriately be charged to an agency’s regular operating funds, House Assistant Majority Leader Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur said in a radio interview Sunday.
“Ang gawin na lang natin (Perhaps what we can do), let’s run after those agencies and then let’s hold to account ‘yung mga personalities or mga officials na hindi niya tinutugunan ang … hindi niya ino-obey o kino-comply ang (the personalities or officials who do not respond … do not obey or comply with the) joint circular. That’s the proper course of action,” he said in an interview over dzBB’s “Bantay Balita sa Kongreso” program.
The administration lawmaker, also a spokesperson of the House of Representatives impeachment prosecution panel, was referring to Joint Circular 2015-01, which outlines the rules on the use, disbursement, and reporting of confidential and intelligence funds.
As part of the reform, Adiong suggested that more stringent procedures and policies be introduced in the implementation of CF.
“The issue should primarily focus on how agencies implement confidential funds rather than treating the funds themselves as inherently problematic,” he said.
In the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, state auditors have testified about irregularities in the use and liquidation of CF by the OVP and the Department of Education when Duterte was secretary.
Adiong said previous agencies with CF generally complied with audit requirements and submitted supporting documents. (Zaldy De Layola/PNA)