THE House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chaired by Manila Rep. Joel Chua is now preparing two bills aimed at regulating (1) the allocation and utilization of confidential and intelligence funds and (2) special disbursing officers (SDOs).
The bills are being crafted based on the results of its investigation into the alleged misuse by the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education of P612.5-million in confidential funds under the leadership of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Sa ngayon, naghahanda na po kami ng dalawang batas upang masolusyunan ang ilan sa mga pagkukulang na natuklasan natin. (Ito ay) ang ‘Act regulating the allocation and utilization of confidential and intelligence funds, imposing penalties for fund misuse or misappropriation’ (at) pangalawa, ang ‘Act regulating Special Disbursing Officers and imposing penalties for misappropriation,’” Chua said.
“Sa confidential and intelligence funds act, layunin naming tugunan ang tila maluwag na alituntunin batay sa Joint Circular 2015-01. Sa mga hearing, nakita natin na pinapayagan ang mga resibo na may pirma lamang, hindi mabasang sulat kamay mula sa mga hindi nakikilalang tao bilang patunay ng liquidation. Panahon na upang mapatupad ng mas mahigpit na mga alituntunin gamit ng mga confidential funds para sa mga confidential na gastos,” he added.
Chua said it is the duty of government to protect use of public funds and implement the necessary changes in the laws to do so.
“Bagama’t mahalaga ang mga confidential funds, sa pambansang seguridad, dapat itong balansihin sa tungkulin ng gobyerno na protektahan ang paggamit ng pampublikong pondo at ipatupad ang kinakailangang pagbabago sa batas kaya’t taimtim naming hinihiling ang pag-apruba na panukalang batas na ito,” he said.
On the proposed regulation of SDOs and imposing penalties for misappropriation, Chua said the bill aims to protect public funds as these can be easy target of heads of agencies and SDOs to abuse fund release worth millions and billions without proper regulation and without fear of penalty.
The bills being prepared notwithstanding, Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro felt that further investigation into the issue should be pursued considering that the amounts involved surpassed the threshold for plunder.
“Dapat po talaga maipagpatuloy at mapalallim pa ang imbestigasyon upang malaman kung sino ang nakinabang sa perang ito. To be candid, ilang bata na sana ang ating napakain. Ilang bata na sana ang ating napaaral, at ilang pamilya na sana ang ating nabigyan ng bahay. Iyong investigation may not be for Congress anymore,” she said, adding that the goal of House hearings is legislation.
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