Joint Circular 2015-01 prescribes specific activities where confidential funds can and cannot be used. It does not give LGUs discretion to spend confidential funds the way they want to.
The Office of the Vice President, under Leni Robredo, did not have confidential and intelligence funds from 2016 until the end of her term in 2022, based on the annual audit reports of the Commission on Audit.
After calling on Congress to remove from the General Appropriations Act a provision requiring the Commission on Audit to publish Audit Observation Memorandum, Ombudsman Samuel Martires changed his tune two days later, saying that what he actually meant was the removal of the requirement to publish COA’s Annual Audit Reports.
Aside from the 1987 Constitution, at least three laws require public officials to file their SALN: Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), RA 6713 (1989 Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees), and RA 7160 (Local Government Code of 1991).
The price cap on rice took effect nationwide on Sept. 5 despite drawing flak from some lawmakers, economists and farmers’ groups.
