MANILA—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has sufficient justification to receive confidential funds as the country’s commander in chief and top official tasked with national security, House Committee on Human Rights Chairperson and Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. said.

Abante made the statement as Congress began examining the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, including the Office of the President’s request for P4.55 billion in confidential and intelligence funds.

“I think we have to remember that the President is also the commander in chief of the Armed Forces. Therefore, he has all the right to have a confidential fund,” Abante said during an online press briefing.

The proposed allocation for the Office of the President is the same as this year’s, with P2.25 billion earmarked for confidential funds and P2.3 billion for intelligence funds.

Across the government, confidential and intelligence funds proposed for 2027 total P10.773 billion, an 8.8% reduction from the P11.818 billion allocation for 2026.

Of the proposed 2027 amount, P4.368 billion is intended for confidential funds while P6.405 billion is allocated for intelligence funds.

Abante’s remarks came after Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Sen. JV Ejercito said confidential and intelligence funds should be restricted to government agencies with responsibilities involving law enforcement, intelligence, and national security.

The House lawmaker said the Office of the President meets that standard because of Marcos’ responsibilities as commander in chief and the security threats faced by the country’s highest official.

He cited as an example an alleged threat involving Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, which is covered by Article IV of her impeachment case.

During the impeachment proceedings, the prosecution presented an authenticated video of Duterte’s Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference in which she said she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez if she herself were killed.

“Palagay ko naman alam na po natin bilang commander in chief ng Armed Forces, bilang siya rin po ang subject ng mga threat, especially ng Vice President. Aba, eh kinakailangan po naman na meron po talagang confidential fund ang ating Pangulo,” Abante said.

He emphasized, however, that the availability of presidential confidential funds does not remove the need for proper spending and accountability.

“Kinakailangan po nating malaman lamang paano gagamitin ’yan, saan gagamitin ’yan,” he said.

Deputy Speaker and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V likewise stressed the importance of ensuring that the funds are properly used and that established procedures are followed.

“Importante kung merong nailaan o naibigay na pondo, dapat tama po ’yung paggamit, tama ’yung pinuntahan, at tama po ’yung proseso na sinusunod,” Ortega said.

The Department of Budget and Management has said the confidential and intelligence funds included in the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program were allocated only to agencies legally authorized to perform such functions.

The funds remain subject to existing rules governing budgeting, utilization, liquidation, and auditing.

Abante said the Office of the President’s proposed budget would undergo the same congressional examination as those of other government agencies.

“Ganoon naman talaga ang gawain ng Kongreso, to scrutinize whoever it might be, whether it be the President, the Vice President,” he said.

The congressional review of the proposed presidential funds comes as Duterte faces an impeachment trial over allegations involving the misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

The amount includes P500 million allocated to the Office of the Vice President for December 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023, and P112.5 million allocated to the Department of Education in 2023, when Duterte served as education secretary.