DOJ Seeks Increased Confidential Funds for 2027 Budget, Cites Rising 'Challenges'

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agencies are seeking increased confidential funds for their operations in 2027, citing "additional challenges" they are facing. The disclosure was made during a Senate budget hearing on Thursday. The DOJ has a proposed budget of P579.4 million for confidential funds in 2027, a significant decrease of 47.3% from its P1.1 billion allocation in 2026. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, represented by Undersecretary Jose Cadiz Jr., highlighted the insufficiency of the current allocation for critical areas. "Sa Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, napapansin po namin sa inter-agency na ang P10 million ay kulang at talaga kailangan pa naming dagdagan dahil may dagdag pong hamon," said Cadiz Jr. (For the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, we have observed that the P10 million allocation is insufficient, and we really need to increase it because we are facing additional challenges.) Remulla's department also hopes Congress will approve its budget of P475,000 to combat emerging cybercrime and P5 million for the National Coordination Center Against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and Child Sexual Abuse or Exploitation Materials (NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM). Meanwhile, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Joel Viado requested an additional P10 million to P20 million for his agency’s 2027 confidential funds. Viado explained that the extra budget would aid in hiring more personnel, stating, "Our Fugitive Search Unit, which tracks down and apprehends fugitives, has fewer than 20 personnel nationwide." The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is seeking a P1 billion budget for its confidential funds, primarily to procure equipment necessary to combat cybercrime. NBI Director Melvin Matibag noted, "We are requesting about P1 billion divided into 12 months. Because more than the expenses on operations, we are intending to procure tools and equipment to fight cybercrime." Matibag shared that during meetings with the United States Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), it was revealed that many scams are linked to the Philippines. "We are requesting an increase in the confidential funds so we can procure the necessary tools to combat these types of criminal activities," he added. The NBI has been conducting an average of 200 to 220 investigative operations per week since April. For 2027, the DOJ proposed a total budget of P46.435 billion, representing 0.64% of the P7.2-trillion national budget. Of this, P31.723 billion (68.32%) is for Personnel Services, P11.340 billion (24.42%) for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, and P3.372 billion (7.26%) for Capital Outlay. The BI and NBI are attached agencies under the DOJ. Source: GMA News Philippines