President Aquino’s proposal for a congressional inquiry into the use of intelligence funds amounting to billions of pesos is starting to gain support in Congress.

Bagong Henerasyon party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera Dy, a neophyte lawmaker, Sunday batted for the adoption of Aquino’s proposal for the creation of a congressional oversight panel to probe expenses for intelligence and confidential operations of various government agencies, including state-run firms.

Herrera Dy even asked the Commission on Audit (CoA) to review the audit rules applied to intelligence fund expenses to ensure transparency and curtail abuses in utilizing the funds.

She said that during Aquino’s term as congressman of Tarlac, he sought the adoption of a resolution that would create a congressional oversight committee to determine whether or not the billions of pesos allocated for intelligence funds are spent for their intended purpose.

The former Quezon City councilor said she is not aware that such committee was formed, adding that she would pursue the approval of the same measure if not.

Herrera Dy said that with nearly all heads of national and local government and state-owned agencies availing themselves of virtually unaudited intelligence and confidential funds, it is imperative for the chamber to create the oversight body to curtail abuses in the use of such allocation.

“To ensure transparency, CoA has to tighten the screws. If possible, the CoA must publicly reveal details of intelligence fund expenditures on operations and projects that have already been terminated or completed,” Herrera Dy said.

The lady solon revealed that the creation of a legislative oversight body dedicated to intelligence and confidential funds has been a proposal of Aquino and several senators in past congresses.

“President Aquino filed House Resolution No. 788 when he was Tarlac’s congressman during the 13th Congress. I hope Congress will act on a similar proposal this time,” the former Quezon City councilor said.

Allocations for intelligence and confidential operations of various government agencies and government-owned corporations are perceived to be the most widely misappropriated funding in the national budget.

Herrera Dy pointed out that this is because such funding is not subject to stringent CoA auditing and accounting scrutiny.

She recalled that former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo had easy access to as high as P1.2- billion intelligence and confidential funds during her term.

Recently, Administrator Armand Arreza of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, said that a total P5- million intelligence and confidential fund had been included by the CoA as part of his annual income.

But Herrera Dy said Arreza’s intelligence and confidential fund pale in comparison with those earmarked by various local government units for mayors and other local officials.