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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Hontiveros to DepEd: Leave intel operations to the pros

Hontiveros to DepEd: Leave intel operations to the pros

Published Oct 6, 2022 12:02 pm

Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros on Thursday said the Department of Education (DepEd) should leave intelligence operations up to the country’s law enforcement agencies as any similar activity that the agency will do would be redundant.

Hontiveros made the call as she continues to question the P150-million allocation for intelligence operations for the DepEd, saying this is not part of their mandate.

The lawmaker noted the DepEd’s P150-million in confidential and intelligence funds is bigger than the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency’s (NICA) P141-million.

“I’m speaking just specifically about the intelligence funds, not the whole budget,” Hontiveros said in an interview on ANC’s Rundown on Thursday, October 6.

“Of course, I share in the Department's advocacy of making schools safe spaces for our children, but let's leave it to the pros (professionals). Kung yung NICA aagawin yung education mandate ng DepEd, tututol din ako (If NICA will take over the education mandate of the DepEd, I will also oppose it). In the same way, the intelligence and security functions, yun na nga, hindi yun mandato ng DepEd (In the same way intelligence and security functions are not part of DepEd’s mandate). So let's leave those to the pros,” she said.

“Any intelligence operation that DepEd might conduct would be redundant. Meron na tayong (We already have) existing national security, national defense, law enforcement, even women and children protection governmental bodies and programs.

Hontiveros said she supports the call of fellow minority senator, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to realign DepEd’s confidential funds to other projects.

“Why would we compromise on educational reform and programs when we could realign these confidential and intelligent funds to meet those needs within DepEd itself?

“We're not yet out of the woods on the pandemic. Tumataas ang COVID cases sa mga (COVID cases are rising among) schools and DepEd can also do something about that. Ito ang mga mandato talaga ng (These are part of the mandate of the) DepEd and urgent concerns right now, and I believe, these are what are covered also for example in the BEDP, yung basic education development plan 2030 that the department launched in 2020,” the lawmaker stressed.

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