FAILURE OF INTELLIGENCE: Drilon questions PHP 11.8 billion CIF after INC rally

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

Former Senate President Franklin Drilon questioned the government’s use of PHP 11.8 billion in confidential and intelligence funds under the 2026 national budget after a surprise Iglesia ni Cristo rally paralyzed parts of EDSA and exposed what he called an intelligence failure.

“Bilyon-bilyon ang intelligence funds, pero isang malaking kilos-protesta na nagpahinto sa EDSA, nagpahirap sa mga commuter, nagpabagal sa negosyo, at nakaabala sa publiko ay hindi man lamang naagapan o na-monitor nang maayos,” Drilon said.

Drilon said the government has long defended the allocation of billions of pesos in confidential and intelligence funds, despite strong public opposition to such funds, by saying they are needed to detect security threats and prevent disruptions to public order.

“Yet, the police themselves admitted there was zero intelligence on this rally, despite billions in intelligence funds. Where did the intelligence funds go?” Drilon said.

“Nasaan ang intelligence? Nasaan ang intelligence funds?” he reiterated.

Drilon issued the statement after a pre-dawn rally organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo led to the closure of major portions of EDSA, causing massive traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

The rally disrupted public transportation, delayed workers, and affected business operations in the capital region.

“Billions were spent on intelligence funds. The public deserves intelligent results, not surprises,” Drilon said.

Under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, the national government allocated approximately PHP 11.8 billion in confidential and intelligence funds.

The Office of the President received the largest share at PHP 4.5 billion, or about 38% of the total CIF allocation.

The Department of National Defense received PHP 1.848 billion, while the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency was allocated PHP 1.47 billion.

“The Office of the President alone controls P4.5 billion in intelligence funds. If a major mobilization that effectively shut down the country’s busiest highway caught the government by surprise, the taxpayer has every right to ask whether these funds are being used effectively,” Drilon said.

“If government agencies failed to detect, anticipate, or prepare for an event of this magnitude, then there is clearly a serious failure in intelligence,” Drilon said.

Drilon called on the Commission on Audit to subject government intelligence spending to the same level of scrutiny previously applied to the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President under Vice President Sara Duterte.

“The Commission on Audit should exercise the same diligence in auditing these intelligence funds. The same standards applied to the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President must likewise apply to the intelligence funds of the Office of the President and all agencies receiving them,” he said.

The controversy over Duterte’s confidential funds has become one of the issues raised in her impeachment proceedings in the Senate.

The House of Representatives voted in May 2026 to impeach Duterte, with allegations including misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials.

Duterte has denied wrongdoing.

Drilon also called for the activation of the Senate oversight committee on confidential and intelligence funds to examine what he described as the government’s repeated intelligence failures.

He cited the authorities’ failure to monitor the whereabouts of fugitives, including Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa and businessman Atong Ang, as further proof that the country’s intelligence system is failing despite billions of pesos in funding.