JV Ejercito seeks confidential funds for DOJ’s prosecutorial functions, NBI’s investigative efforts
October 09, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito
on Monday raised concerns about the funding allocation for the Department of Justice
(DOJ), noting the relatively low budget for confidential funds, particularly
for the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and cybercrime units.
The DOJ's proposed total confidential funds
amount to P471.296 million, with only P475,000 allocated to the cybercrime
division and P211.75 million designated for the Witness Protection Program,
both under the Office of the Secretary.
Out of this total, P20 million is apportioned
for the Bureau of Immigration (BI), P175.4 million for NBI, and P19.2 million
for the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).
During a budget hearing held by Senate Finance
Subcommittee “A” on Monday, Ejercito emphasized the necessity of augmenting
confidential funds to support the DOJ's prosecutorial functions and improve the
NBI's investigative capabilities, especially in light of the increasing
cybercrime threat in the country.
"Considering that other agencies,
especially those in civilian nature, are asking for confidential and intel
funds, I guess, these are the agencies that we really have to put confidential
and intel funds," Ejercito said.
"I think this cybercrime scam is a daily
problem that we all Filipinos are encountering. This is the new crime doing and
new enemy that we are facing right now," he pointed out.
The lawmaker from San Juan highlighted the
importance of supporting and supplementing the DOJ's budget to ensure that the
government is serious about providing justice to those who have less in life.
"The DOJ's confidential and intel funds
are justifiable because it is being used for the witness protection program and
other assets," the lawmaker said.
He said the cybercrime units of the Philippine
National Police (PNP) and the Department of Information and Communications
Technology (DICT), should be also strengthened to combat cybercrime more
effectively.
"We need to augment [the cybercrime
offices] as well because kailangan natin dito ma-penetrate yung mga hacker at
iba pa," Ejercito said.
Following the Senate's recent ratification of
the Public-Private Partnership Code of the Philippines, which Ejercito
sponsored and authored, he emphasized the need to prioritize the relocation of
the maximum security penitentiary (Bilibid) from its current urban setting in
Muntinlupa to Mindoro, as it is no longer considered healthy.
Ejercito
also expressed his support for the DOJ's budget and its reform initiatives.
