Confi, intel funds up by P1-B in Senate version of 2026 budget – Makabayan solons

The Makabayan bloc on Thursday questioned the P1 billion increase in allocations for confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) in the Senate’s version of the proposed 2026 national budget.

According to Mav Gonzales’ report in “24 Oras” on Thursday, the Makabayan bloc said confidential funds rose from P4.37 billion in the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to P5.25 billion in the Senate’s version of the General Appropriations Bill (SGAB).

Meanwhile, intelligence funds also rose from P6.4 billion in the NEP to P6.63 billion in the SGAB.

According to the report, the Makabayan bloc has not yet seen the version of the proposed 2026 spending plan that was approved by the bicameral conference committee.

Makabayan bloc member and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio warned that confidential and intelligence funds are prone to corruption due to the lack of a transparent audit.

“Nakita na natin kung paanong ‘yung confidential at intelligence funds ay napakadaling abusuhin… Hindi dapat pinalaki, sa halip ay dapat nga tinanggal na ang confidential and intelligence funds. Dapat lahat ng pondo ng gobyerno dumadaan sa transparent audit process,” he said.

(We already saw how the confidential and intelligence funds were easily abused… It should not be increased, instead the confidential and intelligence funds should be scrapped. All government funds should undergo a transparent audit process.)

The opposition lawmakers lamented that social services such as education and health did not get as much funding, unlike confidential and intelligence funds which were increased.

They asked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to veto the confidential and intelligence funds when he enacts the 2026 national budget.

“I-veto ng Presidente ang confidential and intelligence funds. Bagaman alam natin na hindi niya gagawin ‘yan dahil sya ang pangunahing nakikinabang dito,” Tinio said.

(The President should veto the confidential and intelligence funds. Although we know that he won’t do that because his office benefits from it.)

GMA Integrated News is reaching out to the aforementioned government agencies and Senate finance committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian for comment regarding the increase in confidential and intelligence funds.

According to the Makabayan bloc, the Office of the President received the highest allocation of confidential and intelligence funds for next year at P4.56 billion.

“Halos kalahati ng confidential and intelligence funds ay nasa Presidente. May ibang paraan para maprotektahan ‘yung mga national security and other concerns. Hindi sa pamamagitan ng paggawang secret nung paggamit sa pondo,” Tinio said.

(Almost half of the confidential and intelligence funds are with the President. There are other ways to protect national security and other concerns. Not through the secret use of funds.)

Meanwhile, the confidential funds of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) tripled from P79.5 million in the NEP to P250 million in the SGAB. The confidential funds of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – Office of the Secretary also tripled from P100.5 million in the NEP to P300.6 million in the SGAB.

The confidential funds of the Department of Justice (DOJ) – Office of the Secretary doubled from P364.846 million in the NEP to P729.946 million in the SGAB.

Similarly, the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) confidential funds doubled from P175.4 million in the NEP to P300.4 million in the SGAB.

The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) was also allocated confidential funds for the first time with P6.705 million in the SGAB.

The intelligence funds of the Philippine National Police (PNP) also rose from P806.029 million in the NEP to P871.86 million in the SGAB. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was also allotted a higher intelligence fund from P1.2 billion in the NEP to P1.216 billion in the SGAB. — JMA, GMA Integrated News