Manila – In a recent Senate session, the proposed budgets for the Office of the President (OP) and the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) for the year 2024 were successfully passed. Senator Sonny Angara, the sponsor of the budget proposals, defended the allocations in the plenary on Thursday. This includes the OP's substantial intelligence fund of PHP2.3 billion.
According to Philippines News Agency, the approval came after thorough discussions and presentations. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri highlighted the comprehensive nature of the OP's report on the utilization of its intelligence funds. The report, submitted to both the Office of the Senate President and Office of the Speaker of the House, was lauded for its detailed breakdown of expenditures, including funds allocated for significant programs like anti-drug initiatives.
During the debates, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III raised queries about the rationale behind the OP's request for an intelligence fund, considering its non-military status. In response, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin's earlier statement was quoted, emphasizing the President's role as both a "user and generator" of confidential intelligence, crucial for decision-making as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Pimentel expressed his support for the allocation of confidential funds to the OP, recognizing the agency's multi-dimensional operations and the necessity of such funds under existing regulations regarding confidential and intelligence expenses in civilian government agencies.
The total budget proposed for the OP stands at PHP10.6 billion, while the PMS has been allocated PHP812 million, both of which received approval in the plenary deliberations.