P300M budget for NBI’s anti-cyber crime drive sought

The NBI headquarters in Manila. (File photo / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Lito Lapid on Monday urged his colleagues to increase the budget for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to boost its cyber crime division.

“Napapansin ko po dito sa budget ng NBI parang kulang po ang budget nila sa cyber crime. Kailangan po nila ng P300 million, yun ang karagdagan na budget ang gusto nila,” Lapid said during the Senate hearing on the proposed P22.5 billion budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for 2021.

(I noticed that the NBI’s anti-cyber crime budget is not enough.  They need around P300 million.)

The NBI, which is an attached agency of the DOJ, got a budget allocation of P1.9 billion for next year.

DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed that the NBI is seeking an additional budget for the procurement of digital forensic investigation tools for its cyber crime division.

The NBI is also seeking funding for the establishment for more forensic laboratories, Guevarra said.

“Although nandun po yun sa proposal ng NBI, ‘di po nakasama sa in-approve ng [Department of Budget and Management],” Guevarra said.

“Ako man po ay gusto ko rin sana magkaroon ng additional appropriation,” he added.

More BI personnel

Lapid also urged his fellow senators to augment the budget of the Bureau of Immigration, also an attached agency of the DOJ.

The senator said additional immigration personnel should be deployed to the Clark International Airport.

“May bagong terminal, baka next year magbubukas, dahil itong immigration kulang ang budget [for personnel],” Lapid said.

(There is a new airport terminal.  It may open next year, the immigration bureau doesn’t have enough budget.)

Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said he would try his best address address funding requirements of the NBI’s anti – cyber crime efforts and hiring of more BI personnel.

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