Will the Office of the President voluntarily relinquish a good portion of its huge confidential and intelligence funds (CIF) for 2024 amounting to P4.5 billion, following the examples of the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Solicitor General which forfeited the whole or a great portion of their secret funds?

Incidentally, the National Security Council and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), both attached to the Office of the President, have been reallocated confidential funds in the amount of P100 million and P300 million, respectively.

It was during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte when the CIF of the President ballooned to P4.5 billion from only P500 million during the time of President Benigno Aquino III or 900% increase.

During the time of President Gloria Arroyo, the CIF of the Office of the President was only P600 million.

Any forfeited funds from the CIF of President Marcos Jr. will go a long way to further support specific activities of the Departments of Health, Labor and Employment, and Social Welfare and Development, as well as rice productivity and financial assistance to farmers.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN