House Lawmaker Hits Pres. Bongbong Marcos Office’s Huge CIF
BONGBONG MARCOS – The Office of the President is challenged by a House lawmaker to explain its Confidential and Intel Funds use.
The “Confidential Funds” was undeniably put in bad light amid the allegations against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte of misused multi-million Confidential and Intelligence Funds of her office. Several hearings were conducted to hear Duterte’s side over the matter but the Vice President has ditched most of the inquiries set by the House of Representatives.
According to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, they are willing to answer to the allegations against her in the proper forum. Her camp also welcomed the ruling of the Supreme Court that declared the impeachment complaint against Vice Pres. Duterte as “unconstitutional”.
According to the high court, the impeachment complaint against the Vice President did not follow the one-year rule in the Constitution. Her camp maintained that they remain ready to address the allegations against the Vice President.
For two (2) years now, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s office is not asking for Confidential Funds. However, what caught the attention of many people recently is the huge Confidential and Intel Funds request of the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) previously announced that the total Confidential and Intel Funds sought for 2026 is at P10.77 billion — 11% lower compared to the CIF this year. Out of the total CIF requested for next year, the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos gets the lion’s share in the confidential and intel funds request.
A total of P4.5 billion CIF is requested by Marcos Jr.’s office for 2026. While it hooked the attention of many people, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio spoke about it during the budget talks. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the lawmaker stressed that the Confidential and Intel Funds requests have hugely changed under the Duterte and the Marcos administrations.
“Kung dati mga P600 million ang confidential funds, sa ilalim ng Duterte at Marcos, ito ay naging P4.5 billion,” Tinio said.
Furthermore, the ACT Teachers party-list Representative stressed that the offices of the Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and the Pres. Bongbong Marcos have the same presentations of their CIF use — in exact amounts. As he pointed out the alleged similarities, he expressed his belief that Marcos Jr. office’s CIF should also be in question.
“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.
Amid the House lawmaker wanting an explanation for the huge CIF of the Office of the President, budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman assured that they follow the guidelines and the President’s CIF is also subject for audit. Despite it, Tinio issued a challenge to the OP.
“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,” the House lawmaker said.
The budget deliberation has officially started. Previously, Speaker Martin Romualdez stressed that the House will really scrutinize the proposed 2026 budget. According to him, every Peso should be meaningful and should benefit the Filipino people.
Amid the doubts and questions. Malacañang defended the P4.5-Billion Confidential and Intel Funds request of the office of Pres. Bongbong Marcos for 2026.