Senate to probe info leak from executive session on confidential funds

The Senate ethics committee is set to conduct a probe on the alleged information leak of its discussion on confidential funds during an executive session earlier this week.

“In order to gather additional information necessary to complete its review, the Committee on Ethics and Privileges will convene its members to conduct a probe on all matters relating to the conduct, rights, privileges, safety, dignity, integrity and reputation of the Senate and its members pursuant to Rule X, Section 13 (16),” said Senate ethics committee chair Nancy Binay on Thursday.

This comes after Senator Jinggoy Estrada called out a news report naming senators who are allegedly supportive of reinstating the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), both headed by VP Sara Duterte.

Estrada said that breaching information from an executive session was in violation of the Senate rules.

Binay, meanwhile, cited Rule XLVII, Section 126 of the Rules of the Senate which states that "The executive session of the Senate shall be held always in closed doors. In such sessions only the Secretary, the Sergeant-at-Arms, and/or such other persons as may be authorized by the Senate to the session hall."

Further, it stated that “The President as well as the Senators and the officials and employees of the Senate shall absolutely refrain from divulging any of the confidential matter taken up by the Senate, and all proceedings which might have taken place...."

Upon the motion of Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri ordered the Senate ethics committee to probe the alleged leak of information about the senators’ discussion on the fate of the confidential funds proposed under the draft 2024 national budget.

The committee, however, will not release further statements on the matter “pending completion of its initial review.”

“In order to comply with Rule XLVII, Section 128 regarding confidentiality, out of fairness to all respondents, and to assure the integrity of its work, the Committee will refrain from making further public statements on this matter pending completion of its initial review,” the senator said.

The House of Representatives has removed P1.23 billion worth of confidential funds from five agencies under the 2024 proposed budget including the P500 million allocated to the OVP and the P125 million of the DepEd.

In the Senate, it was disclosed that the amount of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) was reduced from P10.1 billion to P9.8 billion in the current version of the proposed 2024 national budget.

Senator Sonny Angara chairman of the Senate finance committee, said this happened after the Senate adopted the House of Representatives' decision to reduce the CIF in the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). —VAL, GMA Integrated News