ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said that the slashed confidential funds of several civilian agencies should have been realigned to State Universities and Colleges.

Castro expressed dismay at the decision of the House of Representatives’ small committee to realign confidential funds to agencies allegedly involved in human rights violations.

“It is the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and the National Security Council who are the biggest gainers,” she said. “Dapat sa rice procurement, ospital o SUCs na lang binigay ang dagdag kesa sa NICA at NSC direkta pa itong pinakinabangan ng mamamayan at di magagamit para supilin ang kanilang karapatan.”

Castro commended the small committee for increasing the budget of the Commission on Higher Education’s Tertiary Education Scholarship and Tulong Dunong by P17.1 million.

“At any rate, we still have to wait for the bicam committee version because the confidential fund of the five agencies might be restored,” she added.

“At best, the realignments in the 2024 national budget are mere palliatives against the systemic problems of our country, at worst they can be used to further repress and suppress the Filipino people to maintain the status quo,” Castro said.