MANILA — Rep. Raoul Manuel questioned the budget request of the Office of the President for confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) which, as he pointed out, is bigger than the budgets of the government’s intelligence agencies like NICA and the National Security Council.

Manuel said the OP has a request for P4.560 billion in confidential and intelligence funds for 2025, same as in 2023 and 2024, which is higher than NICA’s proposed budget of P2.242 billion and NSC’s proposed budget P896.9 million.

NICA has a budget request for CIF of P991.2 million out of P2.242 billion, and NSC, P250 million.

Manuel asked if the OP has a mandate to “act like an intelligence agency.”

The DBM confirmed the OP has the highest allotment for CIF, justifying that the President is the commander-in-chief acting “with inputs (from the) security agencies.”

Manuel reiterated the administration should abolish the NTF-ELCAC and realign its budget and CIF funds to education and social services.

Manuel said, “Ibig sabihin mas malaki ang intelligence funds under the current admin tapos Madam Chair yung 4.5 billion pesos annually na confidential and intelligence funds para po yang 12.5 million na confidential and intelligence funds per day for the Office of the President.”

"Madam Chair, mandate po ba ng Office of the President to act like an intelligence agency? Kasi yun po ang nakukuha natin from the figures sa budget ng OP.”

“Yes po, with inputs po sa security agencies,” a DBM official responded.

"Kung icocompare natin intel fund pa lang ng OP 2.31 billion na. Mas mataas pa doon sa total budget na ng ating intelligence agency na NICA which is 2.19 billion. Madam Chair tingin natin supposedly isang civilian agency na nagooversee sa lahat ng mga ahensya tinalo pa niya ang NICA.”

The NTF-ELCAC has P10.294 billion programmed funds under the 2024 GAA and obligations as of June 30 of P2.833 billion.