DOJ asks PH Senate to restore its P1.1-billion confidential fund

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday asked senators to restore its confidential funds to the 2026 level of about PHP1.1 billion, saying reduced resources could constrain information gathering, witness protection and operations against trafficking and cybercrime.

During the Senate deliberation on the DOJ's proposed 2027 budget, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the department hopes to retain this year's funding level instead of the roughly PHP579.4 million cited for next year.

“Ang amin pong hiling sana ay maibalik man lang yung 2026 level para hindi maapektuhan nang malaki (Our request is to at least restore the 2026 level so our operations will not be greatly affected),” Vida said.

The proposed allocations form part of the PHP7.2-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2027 submitted by the executive branch to Congress.

Vida said the reductions would be felt across several confidential activities of the department.

For the DOJ central office, he said only PHP34 million was proposed compared with PHP214 million sought, while the Witness Protection Program was allotted about PHP319.9 million instead of the PHP500 million the department wants restored.

He also cited the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, which has PHP10 million, saying additional resources are needed as its operations face growing challenges.

Vida particularly raised the proposed confidential allocation for cybercrime operations, saying the DOJ wants the funding restored as the work involves coordination among the department, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Department of Information and Communications Technology and other agencies.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said during the hearing that the annual confidential allocation cited for the DOJ's cybercrime work would translate to only about PHP35,000 monthly.

“Kung i-divide mo ng 12, 35,000 a month? ... Ano ma-accomplish mo (If you divide it by 12, that's PHP35,000 a month. What can you accomplish)?” Lacson said.

Vida also asked that at least PHP5 million be provided for the National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials, which he said received no confidential fund under the proposal.

He said combating such offenses has become increasingly complicated.

Senate Committee on Finance chair Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said confidential and intelligence funds would face closer scrutiny during this year's budget deliberations, but acknowledged that agencies involved in law enforcement, investigation and national security have operational requirements for such funds.

The Bureau of Immigration, meanwhile, retains a PHP20-million confidential fund under the proposal, the same amount as this year.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said additional funding would help an intelligence force of fewer than 100 agents operating nationwide, including its fugitive search operations.

“Nationwide po ang operations namin. So makakatulong po nang malaki kung iyan po ay madadagdagan (Our operations are nationwide, so an increase would help us greatly),” Viado said. (PNA)