Former presidential candidate and now senatorial candidate Leody de Guzman said on Wednesday that he wishes to remove confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for civilian agencies.
De Guzman stated in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB’s “Ikaw Na Ba” that one of his main agendas, should he win a Senate seat, is to propose a ban on CIF to prevent them from becoming a new source of pork barrel for corrupt officials.
“Ang una kong gagawin, gagawa agad ako ng bill na ipagbawal na ang confidential fund kasi… sa totoo, corruption ‘yan. ‘Yang ang kapalit ng PDAF noon,” De Guzman said.
“Kasi hindi puwedeng kuwentahin, hindi puwedeng tanungin… Dapat wala na ‘yan. Dapat transparent ang lahat ng pera na ginagastos ng gobyerno dahil ‘yan ay pera ng bayan,” he added.
He pointed out that the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the intelligence funds for the police and military are already in place, and therefore, CIF for civilian agencies are no longer necessary.
“Mayroon na tayong NICA. Mayroong intelligence fund ang police at military. Dapat doon ibigay at hindi mga civilian na mga tao,” he said.
The labor rights activist also advocated for direct democracy and the banning of political dynasties in the country.
“Kung magkakapuwesto ako puspusan nating itutulak na ang kahilingan ng mga manggagawa na tumaas ang kanilang sahod ay maisakatuparan,” he said.
“Ang hinihiningi namin, dapat madagdagan ng P750 ang sahod ng mangagawa. Sa ngayon, ang tinatangap ng mga mangagawa ay P645 lamang sa Metro Manila. Sa probinsya, napakalayo ng sahod… ‘Yung P750 sapat para matugunan ang sinasabi ng gobyerno na ang living wage dapat ay nasa P1,207,” De Guzman added.
