PNP says politics hinders them from getting more intelligence funds

August 30, 2019

The Philippine National Police ( PNP) on Friday said politics has been one of their obstacles in getting enough funds to enhance their intelligence capabilities.

"Sometimes the opposition, you know the politics in our country. That’s one hindrance on why sometimes we don't get the budget (we need) or we cannot present the budget," Police General Oscar Albayalde told reporters in Pampanga.

"There are political hindrances here, political obstacles,"  he added.

Albayalde defended the intelligence fund given by the Office of the President which is 12 percent lower from their 917.93 allotment for 2019.

President Rodrigo Duterte allocated P806 million for 2020.

Albayalde said they will also be allocated intelligence funds under their proposed P184.9 billion.

"These are all being used for information gathering and of course on strengthening our intelligence capabilities, particularly on technical equipment also," he said.

Albayalde reiterated that the country has a problem not only with communist movement but on different threat groups in Mindanao, particularly the Abu Sayyaf Group and ISIS.

"That's our focus on why we need (the budget) for us to acquire high-tech intelligence equipment. We have to invest," he said.  Ella Dionisio/DMS