Leaders of the House Appropriations Committee called out the information circulating on social media about the P1.6 billion confidential fund at the House of Representatives, calling it fake news.

According to Congresswoman Stella Quimbo, vice chair of the House Appropriations Committee, the Congress does not have any confidential funds.

On the other hand, Congressman Elizaldy Co., the chairman of the committee, said that it is a form of fake news.

Quimbo explained that the House’s Extraordinary Fund is included in the confidential and intelligence funds category under the 2023 General Appropriations Act.

However, Quimbo said that it goes through the review of the Commission on Audit (COA) compared to the CIF of various government agencies, and the congresswoman said that the fund is being audited and is undergoing review.

“Ang heading is confidential intelligence and extraordinary. So, magkaiba ang confidential sa extraordinary,” she explained.

“Yung extraordinary is fully auditable, which is different from confidential. At ang Congress ay wala nung confidential,” the House lawmaker discussed further.

Quimbo said the expenses during the calamities are an example of extraordinary expenses.