PNP defends seeking higher intelligence funds

August 29, 2019

The head of the Philippine National Police ( PNP) defended the administration's P806.03 milIion proposed budget for their intelligence fund saying they only "ask for what they need".

In an interview with reporters Thursday, Police General Oscar Albayalde debunked the claims of some lawmakers that the increase in intelligence budget of the government will turn the country into a "police state".

"I don't know who said that but the budget we are asking is just enough for what the PNP needs," Albayalde said.

"In fact, that budget is still lacking to improve our intelligence capabilities," he added.

Albayalde said the increase in their intelligence fund is a big help as it includes their counter-terrorism capability program.

"We cannot deny that we have problems in terrorism so we have to invest on our counter-terrorism equipment, efforts, and interventions," he said.

On the proposed 2020 national budget submitted by the Department of Budget and Management last week, appropriations for the PNP increased to P184.9 billion, a 30 percent increase from its P173.5 billion budget this year.

According to President Rodrigo Duterte, the increase in budget will boost their campaign against criminality and terrorism.

"We thanked the president for seeing our need to modernize the PNP," said Albayalde.

The PNP chief said the budget will be part of their Capability Enhancement Program (CEP).

He reiterated that the president gave them P21 billion for the last three years which is higher compared to the P2 billion PNP got every year during the previous budget.

The House of Representative is set to deliberate their budget next week. Ella Dionisio/DMS