COA: Office of the President highest spender of intel, secret funds in 2022
MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the President has the highest expenditures in Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF) in 2022, the Commission on Audit’s (COA) Annual Financial Report in National Government Agencies shows.
Based on the report, an amount of P2.25 billion of confidential funds was spent by the Office of the President in 2022. This is 61.28% of the total confidential expenses of different departments and offices.
After the Office of the President are the Other Executive Offices (OEOs) which spent almost P755 million last year.
These OEOS, according to the Department of Budget and Management, are offices or agencies that do not fall in any specific department or address pressing concerns that cut across departments.
The following are the confidential expenses of the departments and offices, according to the 2022 Annual Financial Report:
- Office of the President – P2.25 billion
- OEOs – P764.888 million
- Justice – P302.133 million
- Office of the Vice President – P125 million
- Interior and Local Government – P60.6 million
- Finance – P60.537 million
- National Defense – P37.429 million
- Social Welfare and Development – P20 million
- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority – P18.750 million
- Foreign Affairs – P10 million
Within the OEOs, COA said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency indicated the highest amount of expenses, which is P500 million. It is then followed by the National Security Council, spending P182 million.
According to the commission, a total of P3.672 billion in confidential funds was spent in 2022.
Meanwhile, regarding intelligence funds, the Office of the President still has the highest expenditure, as it spent P2.25 billion in 2022. This is 39.69% percent of the total intelligence expenses reported during the year.
The Department of National Defense has the second highest expenses in the intelligence fund. It spent an amount of P1.743 billion.
These are the intelligence expenses in 2022 based on the report:
- Office of the President – P2.25 billion
- National Defense – P1.742 billion
- Interior and Local Government – P1.118 billion
- OEOs – P548.2 million
- Transportation – P10 million
Within the Department of National Defense, the General Headquarters reported the highest expenses with an amount of P1.24 billion, COA said. It was followed by the Philippine Army, spending P444 million.
The commission also noted that the indicated expenses under the Department of Interior and Local Government were for the Philippine National Police.
The COA said that a total amount of P5.669 billion in intelligence funds was spent.
Overall, the total of CIF spent in 2022, according to the commission’s annual report, was P9.340 billion.
INQUIRER.net has reached out to Malacañang for its side but it has yet to respond as of posting time.
RELATED STORIES
Quezon City is PH’s richest LGU for three consecutive years
House gives zero confidential funds to OVP, DepEd, DICT, DFA, DA
