President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (TOTO LOZANO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
The President sent a letter to leaders of Congress about his decision to issue a “direct veto” on several “rider” provisions in the national budget for next year, saying he was duty bound to curb any attempt to impinge upon the Constitution and existing laws.
According to the President, intelligence funds cover programs and activities related to national security, which he insisted are “deemed confidential or classified information.” Such national security information is also one of the recognized exceptions to the right of information, he added.
He said the use of intelligence funds must be submitted to his office, not to those of the House Speaker and Senate President as stated in the vetoed “inappropriate provision” in the 2021 budget.