Zubiri: Senate to boost Coast Guard, Navy confidential and intel funds

The Senate is looking to boost the confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Navy amid the ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said over the weekend.

Zubiri on Saturday committed to fight for the increase in the CIF of the two agencies patrolling and protecting Philippine territory as China continued to encroach on the country’s territory.

“Dahil sa nangyayari sa West Philippine Sea, gusto po namin dagdagan ang budget ng ating mga sundalo at Navy personnel, lalo na sa Navy at coast guard, to strengthen our external defense capabilities para magkaroon po tayo ng credible defensive posture,” he was quoted as saying in a radio interview.

(Because of what’s happening in the West Philippine Sea, we want to increase the budget of our soldiers and Navy personnel, especially the Navy and the Coast Guard, to strengthen our external defense capabilities to have a credible defensive posture.)

In 2016, the Philippines secured a landmark international tribunal ruling invalidating Beijing’s massive South China Sea claims.

China refused to acknowledge the ruling, with over 50 of its vessels spotted in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal, as reported by the Western Command in July.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday described the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) presence in the West Philippine Sea as misplaced bullying following its recent maneuvers trying to block a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal.

Several countries — led by the United States, Australia, Japan, and Canada — expressed support for Manila and criticized China's actions, the latest in the string of several reported incidents of harassment against Philippine vessels this year.

Beijing, meanwhile, claimed that Philippine ships intruded into the Ayungin Shoal and violated its laws when it conducted the resupply mission.

The proposed CIF for 2024 totaled P10.142 billion, higher than the P10.02 billion set aside for this year, with the highest share going to the Office of the President (OP) with P4.51 billion. The Department of Agriculture (DA), also headed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., is set to get a P50 million CIF.

“Imagine, ‘yung Coast Guard ay P10 million lang ‘yung confidential fund nila. ‘Yung ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, hundreds of millions. So I would suggest na pwede nating ilipat doon sa mga kailangan talaga ng intelligence funds at madagdagan ang intelligence funds to protect us both internally and externally,” Zubiri said.

“Iyan po ang pangako namin sa inyo, may maiiba pagdating po sa intelligence funds at confidential funds. And I think it will be reflected in the outcome of the Senate hearings of the budget,” he added.

(Imagine, the Coast Guard only has P10 million in confidential funds. Other government agencies have hundreds of millions. So I would suggest that we transfer funds to those who really need it to protect us, both internally and externally.

This is our promise to you, that there will be changes in the intelligence and confidential funds. And I think it will be reflected in the outcome of the Senate hearings on the budget.) — DVM, GMA Integrated News