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August 23, 2003, The Philippine Star, Gov't seeking P1.2-B intelligence funding,

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August 23, 2003, The Philippine Star, Gov't seeking P1.2-B intelligence funding,

The government will be awash with intelligence funds once the P864.8-billion proposed national budget for 2004 is approved. 

Under the proposed budget, P1.2 billion is allocated for "confidential and intelligence expenses," with the Office of the President getting more than half or P650 million. 

Of this amount, P500 million will go to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission chaired by President Arroyo while the remaining P150 million will go to the Office of the President proper. Because of their nature, intelligence funds are "untouchable" by the Commission on Audit and the President will have full control of the funds as all releases must be approved by the Chief Executive. 

The other half of the intelligence funds amounting to P601 million will be given to various frontline agencies of the government like the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Bureau of Immigration (BI), and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). 

The DILG is the next biggest recipient of intelligence funds with P285 million, of which P270 million will go to the Philippine National Police (PNP). The DOJ will get P121 million, the bulk of which will go to the Office of the Secretary, which runs the government’s Witness Protection Program. 

The NBI and the BI, which are both under the DOJ, will also get P18 million and P8 million, respectively. The DND was allocated P111.5 million, P78 million of which goes to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and P33 million to the Office of the Secretary. 

Of the P78 million for the AFP, P33.6 million will go to General Headquarters, P24 million for the Army, P15 million for the Navy, and P6 million for the Air Force. The NICA gets some P31.2 million while the National Security Council gets P1 million. 

Other agencies receiving intelligence funds are the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, P15 million; the Department of Finance, P9.5 million (P5 million will go to the Bureau of Internal Revenue and P4.5 million to the Bureau of Customs); the Office of the Vice President, P6 million; Department of Environment and Natural Resources, P5 million; Anti-Money Laundering Council, P5 million; Presidential Commission on Good Government, P5 million. Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo vowed to question how the government plans to spend its intelligence funds.

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on Nov 20, 12