Tinio Urges Marcos to Release President's Office Confidential and Intelligence Funds Report

MANILA, Philippines — Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio on Thursday challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to disclose the Office of the President’s (OP) use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) starting in 2023. Tinio's statement came after Palace press officer Claire Castro's earlier remarks that the president is transparent about the utilization of these funds. "The public has a right to know how the confidential and intelligence funds of the OP are being utilized," Tinio said. He added that the public deserves to know the details of how these funds are being spent, especially since they are part of the national budget. "We are calling for the immediate release of the report on the use of CIF by the OP," Tinio said. The lawmaker also urged the President to ensure that all government funds are used responsibly and for the benefit of the Filipino people. "We trust that President Marcos Jr. will heed our call for transparency and accountability," Tinio said. Meanwhile, Malacañang maintained that the President is committed to transparency in governance and that all government funds are being utilized properly and in accordance with the law. "The President is committed to good governance and transparency," Castro said in a previous statement. "All funds allocated to the Office of the President, including CIF, are being used judiciously and in compliance with all relevant laws and regulations," she added. However, Tinio insisted that mere assurances are not enough and that concrete evidence of transparency is needed.