In 2023, the Office of the President (OP) spent the most on confidential and intelligence funds, totaling P4.56 billion, according to the Commission on Audit (COA). This includes P2.25 billion for confidential expenses and P2.31 billion for intelligence spending.
Confidential expenses cover surveillance and other secret activities, while intelligence expenses focus on gathering information for national security. Other agencies with high spending include the Justice Department, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and the Office of the Vice-President (OVP).
In intelligence, the OP is followed by the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). The overall spending on these funds increased from P9.75 billion in 2022 to over P10 billion in 2023, with a rise in both confidential and intelligence fund expenses.
Some experts argue that civilian agencies should not have confidential funds and instead rely on national intelligence agencies for support. Others suggest the money could have been better spent on social programs like healthcare, housing, and education. As a result, the Department of Budget and Management has reduced the budget for these funds by 16% for the 2025 budget.
