House drafts bill to regulate use of confidential intelligence funds

MANILA — Members of the House prosecution panel are working on a bill designed to codify existing audit guidelines governing the use of confidential and intelligence funds, according to Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.

The proposed legislation would establish comprehensive safeguards covering operations such as the maintenance of safe houses, use of aliases, and the designation of disbursing officers responsible for managing these funds. The measure would also include provisions outlining penalties for violations of established protocols.

Ridon, who chairs the House prosecution panel, said Thursday that lawmakers are drawing on lessons and best practices to craft the bill. The initiative reflects efforts to balance the need for transparency and accountability in government spending with the operational requirements of sensitive security and intelligence activities.

The bill represents an attempt to standardize oversight mechanisms that currently operate on an ad hoc basis, bringing greater clarity and consistency to how such funds are monitored and audited across agencies. Officials have not disclosed a timeline for the measure's introduction in Congress.