₱10.64-B budget sought by Marcos' office for 2024 hurdles Senate plenary

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 9) — The proposed ₱10.645-billion budget for 2024 of the Office of the President (OP) on Thursday passed the Senate plenary, but it did not escape interrogation on its request for confidential and intelligence funds (CIF).

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel immediately asked about the request of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s office for CIF, amounting to over ₱4 billion, during the second day of the chamber's budget debates.

Pimentel said he has no issue with granting the OP secret funds but opposes giving it intelligence funds. He argued that it is a civilian office that receives intelligence gathered and organized by security agencies.

Under the 2024 National Expenditure Program, the OP is requesting around ₱2.3 billion for intelligence funds.

«I don't think the Office of the President is composed of intelligence practitioners,» Pimentel said. «The president himself and his office are consumers of intelligence already gathered and organized by the intelligence practitioners, agencies under the Office of the President in the executive branch.»

Sen. Sonny Angara, the budget sponsor and the Senate Committee on Finance chairperson, said the intelligence fund requested is of the same amount for the president's office since 2020.

Pimentel said the president, as chief executive, receives all intelligence from agencies mandated to gather such information and conduct surveillance activities. He added that before agencies can tap intelligence funds, they have to request from the OP.

«And yet mismong siya ay binibigyan ng intel funds so he reports to himself… Bagsak, sirang sira ang concept ng checks and balances and control,» he argued.

[Translation: And yet his office is given intel funds so he reports to himself. It violates the concept of checks and balances and control.]

Angara gave assurance the OP is not exempted from submitting documents required by the Commission on Audit.

Despite the issues raised, the OP's proposed spending plan next year passed the Senate plenary. The ₱800 million funding request of its attached agency, the Presidential Management Staff, was also deemed submitted for the chamber's