House Member Calls for Scrutiny of Marcos Jr. Office’s Confidential Funds
MARCOS JR. – The Office of the President is urged to explain its huge Confidential Funds amid the scrutiny of the CIF of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte received countless criticisms over the alleged misused Confidential Funds of her office. Last February, amid the accusations, she was impeached by the House of Representatives.
Amid the allegations, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte maintained that they are willing to address questions in the proper forum. According to her, they even supplied all the requirements set by the Supreme Court. The high court recently declared the articles of impeachment against the Vice President as unconstitutional for not following the one-year rule.
For 2026, the Office of the Vice President is seeking a P903-billion budget which the OVP said is “enough” for their programs. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s office also did not request for Confidential Funds — for two (2) years now.
Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Vice Pres. Sara Duterte over her alleged misused of the Confidential Funds of her office, a House of Representatives members called for the scrutiny of the Confidential and Intelligence Funds of the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
The office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos is poised to get the biggest Confidential and Intel Funds for 2026 based on the proposed budget for next year. Out of the P10.77 billion proposed Confidential and Intel Funds for 2026, the office of the President is set to get the Lion’s share at P4.5 billion.
Recently, during the budget hearing, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio stressed that the allocation of the Confidential Funds for the president’s office has grown significantly during the terms of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
“Kung dati mga P600 million ang confidential funds, sa ilalim ng Duterte at Marcos, ito ay naging P4.5 billion,” Tinio said.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the ACT Teachers party-list Representative claimed that the offices of the Vice President and the President have the same presentations of their Confidential Funds use — in exact amounts. He raised a question that if Vice Pres. Duterte’s Confidential Funds use is in question, should not the President’s CIF spending be questioned as well?
“Normally, pagka mga cash advance, kung lehitimo, may nagbibigay ng resibo, may mga barya yan, mga butal… what I would like to point out is for the Office of the President, ganun din po ang padron,” Tinio said.
Based on the report, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman assured that the utilization of the Confidential Funds of the Office of the President is also subject to audit. She stressed that there are existing guidelines with regards to the CIF. However, the House member has a challenge to the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
“Hamon po natin sa office of the president na kung pinagpapaliwanag natin ang Vice President sa paggamit niya ng confidential funds, lalong kailangan ng pangulong magpaliwanag dahil di hamak na mas malaki ang confidential and intelligence funds of the president,” he said.
Recently, as the budget deliberation of the proposed 2026 fund kicks off, House Speaker Martin Romualdez assured the scrutiny of the proposed 2026 budget but clarified that it will be as “allies” of the executive department and not as adversaries.
Previously, Malacañang also defended the Confidential Funds request of the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos for 2026.