Rep. Castro wants OVP Intelligence, Confidential funds to fund Coast Guard after Ayungin Shoal scuffle
Paulo Gaborni August 9, 2023 at 11:58 AM
Representative France Castro of the ACT Teachers Party-list requested on Tuesday that the House of Representatives transfers the proposed P500 million in confidential and intelligence funds for 2024 from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
In a statement, Castro emphasized that, in light of the PCG’s efforts to protect the nation’s territorial waters, it is “high time” for its intelligence budget to be increased.
“Ang PCG ang palaging humaharap sa pambubully ng China, tapos ang intel funds nila ay P10 million lang mula 2009. Samantalang ang OVP na wala namang kinalaman sa intelligence gathering ay napakalaki ng intel funds,” Castro said.
“If the OVP is so concerned with national security, then it should have no objections and would, in fact, support the transfer of its P500M to the PCG,” she added.
In response, the OVP said that the matter of intelligence and confidential funds “should be left to the wisdom of the entire membership of the House of Representatives and the Senate and not to Ms. France Castro.”
All government agencies will share P10.142 billion in 2024 for funds related to intelligence and confidentiality.
Included in this are the proposed P150 million for the Department of Education (DepEd), which Vice President Sara Duterte also heads as Secretary, and P500 million for the OVP.
Furthermore, Duterte defended on Monday that the confidential funds she is seeking for the Education Department, stating “education is intertwined with national security”.
Photo: Radyo Pilipinas