ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. acknowledged having annual confidential funds as a local chief executive (LCE) of this province.
“Yes, there is. We have a confidential fund. Ugaling, it’s not like sang iban nga pundo nga gina-disclose automatically because of its nature. That is why nga ako as an LCE, indi ta man mahambal ang proseso because I will compromise the nature of the funds and the guidelines,” Defensor told Panay News.
He is prepared to reveal details about the fund, he said, particularly its allocation, when the time is right. But given the current situation, he is cautious.
The debate surrounding confidential funds has intensified. Several national government agencies, including the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, have proposed substantial confidential funds.
Defensor also clarified that the potential discontinuation of confidential funds does not bother him.
“It is not a primary concern. We can manage without it,” he remarked.
He, however, pointed out that discontinuing confidential funds could impede certain operations, particularly those related to security and intelligence by law enforcement agencies.
“These expenses usually pertain to security and intelligence operations. But the specifics vary by office; there are guidelines, and a liquidation procedure must be followed,” Defensor elaborated.
He disclosed that he submits a liquidation report for his confidential fund to the Commission on Audit (COA) annually.
When questioned about the exact amount of his confidential fund, however, Defensor refrained from providing a specific figure. Still, he said it is relatively modest.
The governor also revealed that he doesn’t always fully utilize the fund. As a result, portions are frequently reallocated.
“Usually, we don’t expend it entirely each year, leading us to reallocate the funds. I recall that in past years, it was realigned to cater to our maintenance and operating costs,” Defensor added.
Last year, surplus funds from the confidential account were redirected to pave a road in Barangay Sablogon, Passi City, he said, where the new headquarters of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office will rise./PN
