Statement of Malacañang on Proposed Confidential, Intel Funds for Marcos Jr.’s Office
Malacañang defended the P4.5 billion confidential and intel funds request of President Bongbong Marcos’ office for 2026.
Amid the ongoing allegations of misused confidential funds surrounding Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, the confidential and intelligence funds usually never fails to ring the bell. Recently, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) spoke on the CIFs request for 2026.
The DBM has submitted the P6.793 trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for the 2026 proposed budget to the House of Representatives. Pres. Bongbong Marcos immediately called on the Congress to “swiftly enact” the 2026 budget proposal. According to him, the country is on track with regards to its targets for prosperity.
The budget department has spoken on the confidential and intelligence funds request for 2026. According to DBM, it is 11% lower compared to confidential and intel funds that were approved for this year.
From the P12.12 billion CIF for 2025, the confidential and intel funds for this year is proposed at P10.77 billion. P6.39-billion of the said CIF budget is set for the intelligence expenses while P4.36 billion for the confidential funds.
It was also revealed that the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos is proposed to have the biggest confidential and intel funds for 2026. The OP is requesting for P4.5 billion CIF for next year. The amount is higher than the confidential and intel funds request of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency at P1.141 billion.
The recipients of the proposed CIFs are the following:
- Office of the President — P4.5 billion CIF
- National Intelligence Coordinating Agency — P1.141 billion CIF
- Department of National Defense — P1.848 billion CIF
- Other executive offices including the Anti-Money Laundering Council, National Security Council, and the Philippine National Police — P2.292 billion CIF
The reports about the proposed confidential and intel funds of the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos for 2026 immediately earned different reactions. Malacañang defended the request of the President’s office.
Based on a report on GMA News, Malacañang press officer undersecretary Claire Castro stressed that the DBM itself said that Pres. Bongbong Marcos is the commander-in-chief and the chief-architect of the national security and the foreign policy which need funds.
Furthermore, based on the report, Castro also stressed that money is not bad as long as it is used properly. According to the Malacañang press official, the confidential funds will only be bad if it is used for corruption.
”Ang tandaan po natin, 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.
For next year, the office of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has no request for confidential funds.