Jamaine Punzalan

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace in Manila on August 14, 2025. Mark Balmores, PPA Pool

Article (news)

MARCOS

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175515700053320250814-marcos-judiciary-fiscal-autonomy-PPA-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Ceremonial Hall of Malacañan Palace in Manila on August 14, 2025. Mark Balmores, PPA Pool</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATED) </strong>— The Palace defended Thursday the P4.5-billion allocation for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s confidential and intelligence funds next year. </p><p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro asserted that the president needs the fund to perform his duties. </p><p>“Ito din naman po ay nanggaling sa DBM, that the President is the commander-in-chief and chief architect of national policy or national security and foreign policy at kinakailangan ng pondo ng Pangulo,” she said in a Palace press briefing. </p><p>Out of the P10.8 billion for confidential and intelligence funds under the 2026 National Expenditure Program, the Office of the President has the biggest CIF allocation at P4.5 billion followed by the Department of National Defense with P1.85 billion.</p><p>The Palace argued that there is nothing improper in the allocation of CIF as long as it is used properly.  </p><p>“Ang confidential funds o ang pera ay hindi naman masama kung ginagamit sa tama. Ang confidential funds or pondo ay nagiging masama kung ginagamit ng isang corrupt, iyon lang naman po,” Castro said.   </p><p>She responded to former finance undersecretary Cielo Magno who criticized Marcos’ proposed CIF in a Facebook post.</p><p>“Walang moral ascendancy si Marcos kay Sara Duterte kung patuloy din syang manghihingi ng confidential fund sa kabila ng katotohanang nakukurakot lang ito. Walang moral ascendancy ang Congress kay Sara Duterte kung patuloy pa rin ang pagbibigay nila ng confidential fund sa Pangulo,” Magno wrote. </p><p>Castro replied, “Kung walang sinasabing moral ascendancy, tandaan natin kung tama naman po ang pagri-report at ginamit sa tama hindi po ito magiging kuwestyonable. Nagkakaroon lang naman po ng comparison dahil kung hindi mai-report ng tama at gumagamit ng mga certificate o iba-ibang mga resibo para lang sabihing nagamit ang confidential funds, iyon ang difference.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/vp-sara-to-explain-in-proper-forum-allegations-vs-confidential-funds-as-senate-archives-case-1835">VP Sara says to ‘explain in proper forum’ allegations on confidential funds as Senate archives case</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>FOREIGN, LOCAL TRIPS </strong></div><p>The Palace exec also defended the P1.018 billion proposed budget for Marcos Jr.’s foreign and local trips for next year which is lower than the allocated budget this year of P1.2 billion.</p><p>“Ang Pangulo ay madalas na lumalabas para tingnan ang seguridad, ang pagmo-monitor din po kung ano ang nangyayari sa lugar natin po – kung may baha, kung may kalamidad,” Castro said.</p><p>“Kinakailangan din po iyan. At nakikita din po ninyo ang kadalasang pagbiyahe ng Pangulo dahil hinihikayat niya ang ibang mga bansa na mag-invest para sa atin dito sa bansa natin,” she said. </p><p>She added that the P17-billion budget for the ASEAN Summit next year is “expected” as the Philippines would host the gathering. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;ZERO AKAP&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Castro explained the reason behind the proposed zero budget for the controversial Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program.</p><p>She said that only P13 billion out of the P27 billion allocation for this year had been utilized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and there is a need to prioritize other programs. </p><p>“So may natitira pa pong P13 billion na puwede nilang gamitin until the end of 2026. So, ang DBM din po ay naka-receive ng almost 10 trillion budget proposals for the agencies, so kinakailangan lamang pong i-prioritize, ang dapat na ma-prioritize na agency, so most probably iyon po iyong dahilan,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/13/zero-funding-eyed-for-akap-in-2026-flood-control-to-get-p274-9-b-2026">Zero funding eyed for AKAP in 2026; flood control to get P274.9-B</a></div>

<p>Palace Press Officer Claire Castro asserted that the president needs the fund to perform his duties.</p>

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro asserted that the president needs the fund to perform his duties.

Palace defends proposed P4.5-billion confidential, intel funds for 2026

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Palace defends proposed P4.5-billion confidential, intel funds for 2026

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 14, 2025 03:40 PM PHT

|

Updated Aug 14, 2025 07:23 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

confidential funds

intel funds

CIF

Office of the President

2026 budget

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