Palace justifies Comelec’s intel funds

MANILA, Philippines - Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. sought intelligence funds for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for use in the last election and President Aquino granted it based on the General Appropriations Act of 2013, Malacañang said yesterday.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte  told reporters yesterday the Comelec and other agencies must justify their request for intelligence funds.

“The justification is supposed to be utilized for intelligence, counter intelligence activities and gathering of information relative to the activities of certain groups, individuals and technology experts suspected of conducting overt and covert operations to sabotage the results of the elections,” she said.

Valte said once the money is given to them, they are expected to spend it within the bounds provided by law. 

“You can find that in Section 59 and 60 of the General Appropriations Act of 2013,” she said.

Under Section 59 of Republic Act 10352, the General Appropriations Act of 2013, officials can seek permission from the President if their agency, which has not been allocated intelligence funds, has savings that they want to realign.

Once the allocation is released, it would be up to the agency how to disburse the funds.

A former election official has accused the seven Comelec commissioners of receiving P7 million in intelligence funds without any need for it.