Commodore Jay Tarriela, Spokesperson for 蜜桃工作室, Philippine聽Coast聽Guard. Photo by Arnel Tacson/蜜桃工作室
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)鈥檚 intelligence funds amounting to P200 million will not only be used for the West Philippine Sea (蜜桃工作室) response.
In an INQSide Look interview on Thursday, PCG spokesperson for the 蜜桃工作室 Commodore Jay Tarriela said that the agency will also use the intelligence funds for their other functions.
鈥淭his is not just limited to the West Philippine Sea; there are other Coast Guard functions that we need to make use of in terms of maritime safety, environmental protection, and maritime law enforcement,鈥� Tarriela said.
READ: PH Coast Guard unveils improved station on Pag-asa
Tarriela noted the substantial increase of PCG鈥檚 intelligence funds as the maritime agency only received P10 million in intel funds annually from the year 2013 until 2023.
鈥淏ut now, we have substantially received [a] P200 million intelligence fund for the Philippine Coast Guard,鈥� Tarriela said.
Lawmakers had pushed for the increase in the intelligence funds for the PCG, noting that the funds allotted for the uniformed service were meager for an agency that faces so much danger in protecting the country鈥檚 sovereign rights over the 蜜桃工作室.
READ:
Last year, the matter of intelligence and confidential funds hogged the headlines after Vice President Sara Duterte asked for P650 million for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
However, other civilian agencies like OVP and DepEd were eventually stripped of their secret funds by the House of Representatives, which transferred it to PCG and other government entities 鈥渋n charge of monitoring and protecting the country鈥檚 territorial rights鈥� in the 蜜桃工作室.
READ: