Over P4.5 billion in confidential and intelligence funds of the Office the President remained untouched in the proposed P5.7- billion national budget for 2024 approved on third and final reading by the Senate on Wednesday.
“Of course, no one dared to touch the CIF of the President,” Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III said.
Pimentel himself did not oppose the allocation of confidential funds for the Office of the President.
He, however, said he is not in favor of allocating intelligence funds to the OP as it is not composed of uniformed and military personnel.
Out of the P10.707 billion budget proposed by the Office of the President for next year, P2.250 billion covered confidential expenses while P2.310 billion was tagged as intelligence expenses.
Earlier, Vice President Sara Duterte decided to no longer pursue her request for P500 million in confidential and intelligence funds.
Duterte admitted the issue was “divisive” after the House realigned confidential and intelligence funds originally allotted to civilian agencies such as the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education — agencies she both heads.
A recent OCTA Research survey showed that 57 percent of adult Filipinos “agreed” with the House’s decision to reallocate CIFs.