Senators were up in arms after alleged details from their executive session on confidential and intelligence funds on Monday were leaked to the media, saying this imperiled the credibility and integrity of the Upper Chamber.
The online news site Politiko identified nine senators who reportedly want to restore P650 millon in confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, both headed by Vice President Sara Duterte.
The senators named in the news report were Christopher Go, Bong Revilla, Ronald dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Lito Lapid, Francis Tolentino, and Cynthia Villar.
Senator Pia Cayetano was named in the report as among those who objected to restoring the CIF.
However, she clarified that she is okay with restoring the confidential funds if Duterte can justify the allocation.
Estrada, for his part, said the leak should be investigated immediately.
“We never voted with regard to all the intel or confidential funds. In fact, we agreed unanimously to remove all CIF, not only that of the OVP and DepEd, but all civilian agencies with CIF,” Estrada said.
He said the media outlet should also be summoned.
Dela Rosa said the journalist who wrote the story can also be cited in contempt if he or she refuses to divulge the source of the leak.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the Rules of the Senate provide that if a senator leaked anything that transpired during an Executive Session, it will lead to his or her expulsion.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva said the matter will be investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee chaired by Senator Nancy Binay.
Senator Francis Escudero, for his part, said he does not want to call the news report a leak as the details were inaccurate.
“It’s not leaks but gossip — not what truly transpired. It was just an attempt to create a story,” Escudero said.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III added: “It was mentioned that I am against the restoration of CF of the OVP, but it is lacking because I said yesterday that the intel fund of the OP should also be removed.”
