P11.8-B Intel Fund Not Enough – Or Misused?

THERE’S no need for Congress to approve the allocation of government intelligence funds under the 2027 national budget, says former Senate President Franklin Drilon amid what he aptly referred to as an intelligence failure that allowed mob rule along EDSA.

“Bilyon-bilyon ang intelligence funds, pero isang malaking kilos-protesta na nagpahinto sa EDSA, nagpahirap sa mga commuter, nagpabagal sa negosyo, at nakaabala sa publiko ay hindi man lamang naagapan o na-monitor nang maayos,” Drilon said in a statement.

According to Drilon, the administration’s failure to detect the surprise rally perpetrated by an influential religious group is unacceptable, amid billions of funds primarily meant to address activities which could disrupt peace and order.

During the two-day protest rally organized by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), EDSA and adjoining streets were rendered impassable as vehicles were stalled after rallyists occupied the northbound lane.

Likewise affected were ordinary employees who were not able to go to work, public transport drivers whose earnings depend on passenger fares, students whose classes were suspended, massive traffic congestion, to name a few.

Drilon said the government has long justified billions of pesos in intelligence funds, despite strong public opposition towards the questionable fund, to detect security threats and prevent disruptions to public order.

“Yet, the police themselves admitted there was zero intelligence on this rally, despite billions in intelligence funds. Where did the intelligence funds go?” an obviously pissed Drilon asked.

“Nasaan ang intelligence? Nasaan ang intelligence funds? Billions were spent on intelligence funds. The public deserves intelligent results, not surprises.” 

The former Senate President noted that under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the national government allocated approximately P11.8 billion in confidential and intelligence funds.

Of this amount, the Office of the President (OP) received the largest share at P4.5 billion, or roughly 38 percent of the entire CIF allocation. The Department of National Defense received P1.848 billion, while the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) was allocated P1.47 billion.

“The Office of the President alone controls P4.5 billion in intelligence funds. If a major mobilization that effectively shut down the country’s busiest highway caught the government by surprise, the taxpayer has every right to ask whether these funds are being used effectively,” Drilon averred.

“If government agencies failed to detect, anticipate, or prepare for an event of this magnitude, then there is clearly a serious failure in intelligence,” he further said.

Drilon thus called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to subject the government’s intelligence expenditures to the same level of scrutiny previously applied to the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President under Vice President Sara Duterte.

“The Commission on Audit should exercise the same diligence in auditing these intelligence funds. The same standards applied to the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President must likewise apply to the intelligence funds of the Office of the President and all agencies receiving them.” 

As this developed, Drilon called for the activation of the Senate oversight committee on confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) to look into what he described as the government’s repeated intelligence failures.

He cited the authorities’ failure to monitor the whereabouts of fugitives, including Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and businessman Atong Ang, as further proof that the country’s intelligence system is failing despite billions of pesos in funding.