DBM: Rody’s P2.5-B intelligence fund meant for drug war

MANILA, Philippines – Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno yesterday justified the P2.5-billion intelligence fund of President Duterte for 2017, saying it would be used for the campaign against illegal drugs.

Diokno conceded that P2.5 billion is a huge amount of taxpayers’ money.

“But at least, there is success in the President’s anti-drug campaign. The previous administration had P500 million, but can they show anything for it?” Diokno remarked in a television interview.

What the budget chief did not say is that the anti-drug effort is succeeding without the government spending billions in intelligence funds, since the P2.5 billion will be available next year yet.

What is available this year is the half-year balance of the Aquino administration’s P500-million intelligence fund, which Duterte inherited last June 30 when he assumed office.

Additionally, there are appropriations in the police and military budgets for confidential and intelligence expenses.

Confidential expenditures do not require detailed accounting. All an agency head has to do is to issue a general certification on the use of intelligence funds. A corrupt handler of such funds can actually pocket them or use them for personal purposes.

On the counterpart, former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada noted the illegal drug trade is an $8.4-billion business in the country.

Estrada added there are now an estimated two million drug dependents.

Estrada urged Duterte to implement the Drug Abuse and Resistance Education (DARE) program in all schools nationwide.

“Now we are trying to revive DARE again in line with the all-out war of President Duterte against drugs and propose that it be implemented nationwide,” he said.

Estrada said the problem on illegal drugs has become a “national epidemic.”  

“The drug menace has long been a national epidemic. It remains a serious national concern. What we need, aside from strict law enforcement operations, is an effective and sustainable drug use prevention program to save our youth from the influence of drugs,” he said.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa admitted illegal drugs remain rampant in three regions in the country, including Metro Manila, despite the intensive effort to contain the menace.

Dela Rosa cited reports from the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management which said that there are still barangays in Metro Manila with high influence of drug use but no one surrenders.

Dela Rosa, however, clarified that among the three regions lagging behind in the campaign against illegal drugs, Metro Manila is better off.

He did not mention the two other regions but warned he would remove the police officials in the region if they continue to fail to meet expectations.

For his part, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueño called on benevolent groups and individuals to exercise their corporate social responsibility and help stop illegal drugs.

Sueño issued the call after San Miguel Corp. pledged to donate P1 billion to the government for the construction of new drug rehabilitation facilities.

“We call on other institutional partners in the country to help in the government’s efforts to put up more drug rehabilitation centers and upgrade our drug rehab facilities,” he said.

Big bulk

On the other hand, Diokno justified the increase in the budget in the President’s campaign against illegal drugs.

The P2.5 billion for intelligence gathering is one of the biggest expense items in the 2017 budget of the Office of the President (OP).

Other big expenditures are representation and entertainment expenses, from P139.3 million this year to P7.6 billion; professional services and consultants, from P78.9 million to P2.1 billion; rent, from P49 million to P2.3 billion; communication, from P23.9 million to P1.3 billion; and travel, from P313.2 million to P2.1 billion.

Diokno also justified the 700-percent increase in the OP budget, from P2.9 billion this year to P20.030 billion next year.

He said the bulk of the increase – P15.5 billion – would be for the country’s hosting of the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). – With Paolo Romero, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Jose Rodel Clapano, Marvin Sy