The Commission on Audit (COA)’s rules governing the audit of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) should be updated and expanded to ensure greater accountability, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.
Lacson raised the need to revisit the Joint Memorandum Circular after COA auditor Roderick Wamil said that the agency’s audit of CIF is limited to a document-based compliance audit under current guidelines.
He also raised the issue of whether auditors assigned to confidential and intelligence funds should be granted the appropriate security clearance to access classified documents needed for a thorough audit.
In Filipino:Lacson, Nanawagan na I-update at Palawakin ang COA Rules sa Pag-audit ng Confidential at Intelligence Funds
The Impeachment Court trying the case of Vice President Sara Duterte would benefit from hearing a competent witness on the handling of confidential and intelligence funds, Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Wednesday.
Lacson noted that the evidence presented at Wednesday’s hearing appeared to show quarterly cash withdrawals by the Office of the Vice President, while his experience in intelligence and law enforcement suggested that such withdrawals are generally made only when operationally necessary.
“I’m wondering why neither the prosecution nor the defense is presenting a competent witness in the handling of intelligence and confidential funds. Kasi po in my previous life sa intelligence, sa law enforcement, ang natatandaan ko kasi limited ang purpose ng intelligence at confidential fund. Nagtataka ako, nakita ko ang regularity ng withdrawals ng cash parang every quarter except for Dec. 20 (I’m wondering why neither the prosecution nor the defense is presenting a competent witness in the handling of intelligence and confidential funds. In my previous life in intelligence and law enforcement, intelligence and confidential funds are limited. And I wonder why cash withdrawals are made regularly, every quarter except for Dec. 20),” he said in his manifestation.
In Filipino:Lacson: ‘Competent Witness’ sa Pangangasiwa ng Confidential at Intelligence Funds, Makabubuti sa VP Impeachment Trial
Intelligence funds should be given only to the line agencies involved in intelligence work because they have the needed training to use such funds, former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson stressed Monday.
Lacson, in an interview on DZBB’s “Ikaw Na Ba? The Senatorial Interviews,” said other agencies that need intelligence inputs or information may tap the services of these agencies.
“I think intelligence funds should be given to the intelligence community. Line agencies needing intelligence information can tap them because they do not have the needed training to conduct intelligence operations,” he said in Filipino.
Related:Ping Lacson: Intel Funds, sa Ahensyang May Mandato Lamang
On Ikaw na Ba: The Senatorial Interviews, former Sen. Ping Lacson answers questions on: * Confidential and Intelligence funds
* National Budget
* Anti-drug war
* West Philippine Sea
* Legislated wage hike
