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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Acidre opposes removal of confidential funds from agencies, LGUs; here's why

Acidre opposes removal of confidential funds from agencies, LGUs; here's why

Published Jul 2, 2025 02:58 pm

At A Glance

  • Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre does not support the proposal to remove confidential funds from agencies or local government units (LGUs) just because some agencies have a history of abusing it.
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre does not support the proposal to remove confidential funds from agencies or local government units (LGUs) just because some agencies have a history of abusing it.
Acidre argues that confidential funds are beneficial to many agencies and LGUs, especially those facing security and insurgency threats.
“Dapat hindi po natin hinuhusgahan ang mga pondo dahil po sa mga nang abuso dito (We should not judge the usage of such funds just because of those who abused them),” he said in a press conference on Wednesday, July 2.
“We must also be able to ascertain the usefulness of certain mechanisms with the merits, with the good that they’re able to do,'' he added.
Acidre's comment was sought after former vice president and current Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo eyed the removal of the city's confidential funds allocation in a bid to cleanse the local government of corruption.
According to Robredo, the sacrifice that is the removal of confidential funds will ensure efficiency on the part of the local government. By doing this, only the employees who are genuinely dedicated to performing their duties would be rewarded.
''Hindi naman ho natin pwede alisin totally ang confidential funds (We cannot totally remove confidential funds),'' Acidre, a vocal critic of Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged misuse of confidential funds, said.
Acidre reckoned: ''What the government could do to ensure that such funds are not abused is to put guidelines on how it must be used.''
''Isa po 'yung siguro sa pagsasabatas noong mga joint memorandum circular ng mga gumagamit ngayon (Perhaps one of these is legislating the joint memorandum circulars being issued to those who use it),'' he said.
''At pagbibigay po ng mas focused na legislation doon sa mga pananagutan ng SGOs (senior government officials), pati po yung qualification nila (We must also have a focused legislation about the accountability and qualifications of SGOs),'' he added.
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