Should legislation to regulate the allocation of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) be pursued, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri believes that local government units (LGUs) shouldn't be spared from it.

"If you come up with a law, I will suggest na isama ang LGUs (that LGUs be included)," Zubiri said in a radio interview.

This is in response to the plan of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III to file a bill that will only allow certain agencies to get such funds.

"Actually maganda po yan (Actually that is good). Pero (But) that can be controversial," he said.

"What about the LGUs kasi kung tinignan nyo po ang LGUs, halos lahat ng LGUs may confidential fund(s). Tignan nyo mga cities lahat po yan may confidential funds (Look at the LGUS, almost every LGU has confidential funds. Look at the cities all those have confidential funds)," he added.

He said that while the public has its eyes set on national agencies, they have to look at the LGUs too, and since 90 percent of their budget is composed of confidential funds, it can be more difficult to monitor it.

However, Zubiri also mentioned that he does not know if this is in violation of Pimentel's father’s law which is the Local Government Code that gives them autonomy when it comes to the auditing of LGUs.

"Pero (But) be fair, if you want to do that for government agencies, dapat kasama rin ang LGU kasi pera na rin ng taumbayan yan (LGUs should be included because it's the public's funds)," he added.

In relation to this, Zubiri earlier stated that the Senate will reallocate CIF and other unnecessary appropriations and give it to the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other agencies in charge of national security.