Use OP intel fund in finding Abu Sayyaf, killers of top revenue officials

If they were killed by scalawags out to sabotage your anti-corruption program, then please use the presidential intelligence fund in finding their killers.

In making this unsolicited advice to President Duterte, Senate Minority Leader stressed that the recent brazen killing of two high-ranking revenue officials must not go unsolved as they repudiate government claims of streets made safe by its intensified anti-crime drive.

Killed in separate ambushes were BIR Makati Regional Director Jonas Amora and Arturo Lachica, Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.

Recto said these are the high-profile cases that may need direct presidential directive and resources to solve.

One of the resources at the chief executive's disposal, Recto said, is the confidential and intelligence fund of the Office of the President (OP).

For this year, this fund has a budget of P500 million, but is expected to increase to P2.5 billion next year, which both houses of Congress are expected to grant.

Recto said "another problematic case" which may require presidential-funded sleuthing is the arrest of Abu Sayyaf members who have gone on a recent kidnapping spree in areas around Sulu Sea.

"If there's one good example which would show that 'intel fund' can solve national security challenges, then it is in stopping, once and for all, the Abu Sayyaf," he said.

"If we are looking for the 'monetary big guns' to fight our enemies with, then that should be the intelligence fund of the highest office of the land," Recto said.

The minority leader said "that, at present, I have has no issue with the OP getting a huge sum of money for intelligence activities for as long as this is only used to find, neutralize the real, violent enemies of the people like the Abu Sayyaf."