Bato: Clear politicking in CIF issue

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Friday clarified his stand about backing his political ally, Vice President Sara Duterte, who said that "whoever is against confidential funds is against peace. Whoever is against peace is an enemy of the nation."

Dela Rosa said he believes that fellow politicians who are being loud against providing confidential and intelligence funds to civilian agencies have their own reasons, except for those left-leaning politicians.

"I'm not referring to other politicians who have other reasons for being against confidential funds," Dela Rosa said in a phone interview.

He particularly mentioned the Makabayan bloc, "those who were red-tagged by Joma Sison as part and parcel of the revolutionary process, the party-lists of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army — National Democratic Front."

"I am with VP Sara in saying that those who are against confidential funds are enemies of peace. I am referring to the Makabayan bloc. Those who were red-tagged by Joma Sison, whom he said were part and parcel of the revolutionary process, the party lists of the CPP-NPA-NDF," he said.

Dela Rosa said that the left-leaning politicians will be "affected if confidential funds will be allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Education."

"That will be used against those who recruit for communist groups; that's why they are scrambling to block it," he said.