P512-M intel fund faces strict scrutiny

Maintaining their suspicion that the Intelligence Services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) was being used for political purposes, opposition senators vowed yesterday to go over the P512.4-million proposed budget for the military for next year with a fine-tooth comb.

Of the amount, P357.5 million was earmarked for the AFP General Headquarters, including the ISAFP.

The Philippine Army was allotted P89.1 million, the Air Force P55.6 million and the Navy P99.90 million.

Sen. Edgardo Angara said a closer look at the military intelligence fund was needed because of the ongoing controversies over the AFP’s campaign against the Abu Sayyaf in Mindanao and the practice of buying intelligence information.

"There is a need for accountability, even with the confidential nature of the intelligence expenditures," Angara said.

He said most opposition senators believed that the intelligence fund of the military was susceptible to misuse because of confidentiality.

"How are paid informants recruited? What is the mode of payment? What type of information is supplied? These are some of the most sensitive questions that should be asked," Angara said.

He said since taxpayers have been financing the intelligence operations of the military, safeguards should be established to prevent abuse of the money.

"We have to make sure that the expenditures are being used for legitimate intelligence work, not to spy on opposition leaders and ordinary citizens," the veteran lawmaker added.

At the same time, Angara questioned the administration’s alleged shabby treatment of poor regions under the 2002 General Appropriations Act.

Angara said the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which has the highest poverty incidence at 68.8 percent, got the lowest allocation of P11.08 billion.

"The ARMM, a region of tumult and extreme poverty, got miserly attention from the budget planners. This is a tragedy," Angara said.

ARMM, consisting of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, has been ravaged by a protracted civil strife waged by two major Muslim secessionist rebel groups.

Angara also noted that other regions considered as among the poorest such as the Cordillera Autonomous Region and Regions 10 and 12 got a meager share of the national budget.