Drilon seeks realignment of intel, tokhang funds to PNP housing

Drilon stressed that the current budget for housing of PNP personnel is inadequate. (Photo: Cesar Tomambo/PRIB)

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Thursday has proposed to realign the P1.41-billion anti-illegal drug campaign budget for the construction of housing units for the Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel.

Drilon stressed that the current budget for housing of PNP personnel is inadequate.

“The PNP’s housing backlog is 10,300 housing units but only about 450 units will be constructed for the PNP for 2018,” Drilon said.

Drilon’s proposal is drawn from President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to designate Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the sole agency in charge to fight the illegal drug campaign.

“Since the PNP is no longer involved in the anti-illegal drug campaign, we will propose an amendment to realign approximately P1.4 billion to increase the housing budget for PNP personnel,” Drilon said.

The Senator proposed the amendment at the resumption of the Senate’s deliberation into the P170.9-billion budget of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), including the P131.5-billion budget of the PNP for 2018.

“We will propose that a good part of this intelligence fund be channeled to the housing of the rank and file and uniformed personnel of the PNP instead,” Drilon said.

“Maawa naman po tayo sa ating kapulisan. Siguro naman yung ibang pangangailangan, pwedeng matugunan doon sa ibang budget ng pamahalaan (Let’s have mercy on our police.  Maybe the other needs can be met through the other budget of the government),” he added.

Drilon said that the P1.41 billion is culled from the PNP’s Oplan Double Barrel or “Tokhang” amounting 900 million, while the DILG’s Masa-Masid program amounting P500 million, and the Anti-Illegal Drugs Information system amounting P14 million.

He said that the amendment to realign the Oplan tohkang funds would supply additional 2,376 housing units for the PNP personnel.