The Department of Justice is asking senators to restore its confidential funds to about P1.1 billion for 2027, arguing that the proposed reduction could affect information gathering, witness protection and operations against trafficking and cybercrime.
During the Senate deliberations on the DOJ’s proposed 2027 budget on September 24, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the department wants its confidential funding returned to roughly its 2026 level. The proposed allocation is about P579.4 million, 47.3% lower than the P1.1 billion provided this year.
Vida said the cuts would affect several areas of the department’s operations. The DOJ central office is proposed to receive P34 million in confidential funds, compared with the P214 million it had sought, while the Witness Protection Program is allocated about P319.9 million instead of the P500 million the department wants restored.
The justice secretary also raised concerns about funding for the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, which has P10 million under the proposal. He said the agency faces additional operational challenges and needs more resources.
Cybercrime has emerged as another major area of concern. The DOJ is seeking additional funding for operations involving the department, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Vida also requested P5 million for the National Coordination Center against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children and related child sexual abuse materials, which has no confidential funding in the current proposal.
The NBI separately asked senators for P1 billion in confidential funds for 2027. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the agency wants to use the money to acquire specialized tools and equipment for cybercrime investigations. He said the bureau has been conducting roughly 200 to 220 investigative operations monthly since April.
The request comes as authorities intensify efforts against online fraud and other cyber-enabled crimes. The NBI has also reported investigations involving suspected online grooming and individuals allegedly connected to the recent school shooting in South Cotabato. Authorities have said investigations into those cases remain ongoing.
The Bureau of Immigration is also seeking additional confidential funding. Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the bureau’s intelligence force operates nationwide and has fewer than 100 agents, while its fugitive search unit has fewer than 20 personnel. The proposed BI confidential fund remains at P20 million, the same level as this year.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said confidential and intelligence funds will undergo closer scrutiny during the 2027 budget process, while acknowledging that law enforcement, investigative and national-security agencies have operational requirements for such funding.
The DOJ’s proposed overall 2027 budget is P46.435 billion, equivalent to about 0.64% of the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget. Whether the requested confidential funds are restored, reduced or otherwise adjusted will depend on the continuing congressional budget deliberations.
