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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Marcos' office gets P4.5-B confidential, intel funds for 2026

Marcos' office gets P4.5-B confidential, intel funds for 2026

Published Jan 5, 2026 02:36 pm
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. greets Senate President Vicente Sotto III during the signing of the 2026 national budget on Jan. 5, 2026 at the Malacañan Palace. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. greets Senate President Vicente Sotto III during the signing of the 2026 national budget on Jan. 5, 2026 at the Malacañan Palace. (Photo courtesy of PCO)
President Marcos has a total of P4.5-billion confidential and intelligence fund under the 2026 national budget.
Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the Office of the President (OP) has the same amount of confidential and intelligence funds as last year.
Despite public clamor over secret funds, the President's intel funds did not decrease. Recto, however, assured the public that its spending will be transparent, considering that the OP directly reports to the Senate President and Speaker of the House.
"I think it's transparent in the sense that the OP reports directly to the Senate President and to the Speaker of the House. So the OP submits reports to the House of Representatives and to the Senate President and to COA (Commission on Audit)," Recto said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Jan. 5.
According to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) acting Secretary Rolando Toledo, there is a total of P11.8 billion confidential and intelligence funds under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2026.
"For the confidential intelligence fund for 2026, there is a total of P11.8 billion based on the GAA," Toledo said.
He said the government's confidential funds decreased by around P302.2 million compared to last year's.
"So it decreased from the P12.120 billion that is coming from 2025. So, bumaba actually (it decreased) by around P302.2 million iyong confidential intelligence fund, it’s for the total," Toledo said.
In spending the confidential and intelligence fund, the DBM official said rules and regulations set by the government should be followed to ensure that it is judiciously spent.
"Well, we just have to follow what is in the joint circular with the DBM and COA. So we have to follow those rules and regulations. That is basically that we follow in terms of the accountability or accounting of the confidential fund and intelligence fund. And also, per our general provision, we need to report that to the House of Representative and Senate, at the same time from the Office of the President. So, it will be monitored accordingly," Toledo said.
In signing the national budget, President Marcos gave an assurance that his administration will enforce safeguards without exception to ensure that the budget is spent to serve the public interest and to advance national development goals.

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