(PNA photo by Avito Dalan)
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday asked the Senate to restore its confidential fund to about Php 1.1 billion in 2027, warning that a lower allocation could affect intelligence gathering, witness protection and operations against trafficking and cybercrime.
During Senate deliberations on the DOJ’s proposed 2027 budget, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the department hopes to retain its 2026 funding level instead of the roughly Php 579.4 million proposed for next year.
“Our request is to at least restore the 2026 level so our operations will not be greatly affected,” Vida told senators.
The request forms part of deliberations on the proposed Php 7.2-trillion national budget for 2027. The DOJ and its attached agencies have proposed new appropriations of Php 43.305 billion for next year.
Vida said the reduction would affect several confidential activities. The DOJ central office was proposed to receive only Php 34 million compared with the Php 214 million it sought, while the Witness Protection Program was allotted about Php 319.9 million instead of the Php 500 million the department wants restored.
He also sought additional resources for the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking and for cybercrime operations involving coordination among the DOJ, National Bureau of Investigation, Department of Information and Communications Technology and other agencies.
Vida further asked for at least Php 5 million 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.
Senate finance committee chair JV Ejercito has said confidential and intelligence funds should generally be limited to agencies involved in law enforcement, intelligence and national security, while remaining subject to accountability and scrutiny.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration retains a Php 20-million confidential fund under the proposal. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said additional funding would help support its nationwide intelligence and fugitive search operations.
