# House Committee on Appropriations: DOJ Part 1 - August 24, 2026 — Source-Linked Digest

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e7AbUQ8f3k

AI-assisted working draft. AI can make errors. Always verify consequential interpretations and wording against the cited transcript and official video.

## At a glance

- **FY 2027 NEP and DOJ request:** Members pressed DOJ on reduced funds for protection work, prosecution staffing, systems and corrections. Officials identified proposed additions and members supported restorations; the hearing recorded no adopted appropriation.

- **Budget fault line:** Members sought restoration for DOJ operating funds, NBI and BI systems, cybercrime, anti-trafficking and child-protection work, legal staffing and corrections. Officials specified several proposed additions, but the hearing did not adopt these as appropriations.

- **Prosecution and accountability:** Questions distinguished DOJ's reported prosecution-success and disposition measures from conviction rates, exposed missing treatment of witness-related dismissals, and pressed for disaggregated graft, terrorism-financing, petition-for-review, and imprisonment data. Confidential-fund increases and liquidation were also scrutinized because the record did not reconcile all yearly components or explain the 2025 surge through public program outputs.

- **Protection and emerging threats:** The hearing linked reduced anti-trafficking, cybercrime, and OSAEC funding to AI-enabled grooming, sextortion, online recruitment, rescue capacity, international cooperation, and staff workload. DOJ sought at least prior-year funding for several protection lines, while questions about religious profiling, blacklist safeguards, gender-sensitive investigations, responder support, and technology-facilitated violence produced principles and review promises more often than measurable coverage or outcomes.

- **Immigration and border systems:** BI faced sustained scrutiny over e-Gate procurement and unobligated balances, the unsigned CAIS public-private proposal, passenger charges, control of traveler data, and claimed screening capabilities. Separate exchanges covered POGO enforcement, Agnès Callamard's unresolved Philippine restriction status, alleged false identity documents, and a proposed immigration-status roadmap; key figures, safeguards, documents, and final decisions remained pending.

- **Corrections, legal aid, and land records:** BuCor described decongestion, regional transfers, new dormitories, discipline, and eventual NBP closure, while members sought family-proximity safeguards, capacity measures, transfer lists, and resolution of missing PDL funds. PAO and PPA cited severe workload and staffing needs, OSG sought building and digital investments, and LRA discussed delayed ancestral-domain, CLOA, free-patent, lost-title, and Friar Lands issues without settling several legal and funding questions.

- **Commitments and unresolved follow-through:** Officials committed to provide selected utilization, vacancy, case, transfer, contract, and enforcement records; check particular immigration and land matters; pursue procurement and obligation milestones; and coordinate further hearings or consultations. Recurring limits were missing delivery dates, conditional DBM or GAA approval, incomplete arithmetic, deferred source records, plans still under review, and member support that was not binding committee action.

Reading note: Organized by the DOJ presentation and representative, with repeated appearances grouped only after every individual round passed independent review. Citations navigate to the start of the question and material answer or outcome; use the timed transcript and official video for full context.

## Department of Justice presentation

### FY 2027 DOJ request and NEP allocation

PHP 46.35 billion in the FY 2027 NEP recommendation against DOJ's PHP 121.63 billion department-wide request for the same fiscal year. DOJ is the government's principal law agency, responsible for investigation and prosecution, corrections, immigration and citizenship, land titling, and free legal assistance for vulnerable and indigent people. The DOJ family presented comprised the Office of the Solicitor General, Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Immigration, Land Registration Authority, National Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, Parole and Probation Administration, Presidential Commission on Good Government, Public Attorney's Office, and Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution.

[00:21:03 · asr-000384](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000384) · [00:20:54 · asr-000383](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000383) · [00:07:44 · asr-000116](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000116) · [00:09:16 · asr-000157](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000157)

### Prosecution throughput, success rates, and protection enforcement

DOJ reported that the National Prosecution Service handled 428,779 cases in 2025 and disposed of or resolved 395,780, while 99.12% were resolved within the prescribed 120 days. It reported a prosecution success rate of 90.84% in 2025, up from 90.14% in 2024, and 91.38% in the first half of 2026; the first-half case-disposition rate was 97.94%. DOJ attributed the trajectory to stronger case build-up, evidence standards, and prosecutors' participation in criminal investigation. It also reported 100% first-half performance across three witness-protection indicators. For monitored special-enforcement cases, successful prosecution was 95.16% in 2025 and 94.23% in the first half of 2026, while the cluster's completion rate rose from 95.34% to 95.76%.

[00:10:22 · asr-000189](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000189) · [00:12:27 · asr-000250](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000250)

### Corrections, investigation, registration, and legal-service performance

The performance review said 100% of parole and executive-clemency resolutions were issued and all victim-compensation applications were acted upon in 2025 and the first half of 2026, while 99.12% of legal-service requests were acted upon in the first semester. NBI reported 32,419 investigations in that semester against 56,212 for all of 2025, and clearance-processing efficiency of 99.28% within ten minutes in 2025 and 98.79% in the first half of 2026. BI reported clearing 99.9% of foreign arrivals and departures and a 96.02% first-half intelligence-case disposition rate within 60 days. BuCor reported 52,708 persons deprived of liberty under daily safekeeping, down from 53,972 in 2025, and rehabilitation participation rising to 98.60%. PPA reported first-half client compliance of 99.46% and rehabilitation participation of 98.75%. The briefing also cited PAO, OSG and OGCC service results; LRA reported 93.94% of titles issued and 95.67% of deeds annotated within 20 days of complete documents; and OADR reported training 3,392 practitioners and implementers in 2025 and acting on all accreditation and training-program applications for 2025 and 2026.

[00:13:51 · asr-000285](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000285) · [00:14:32 · asr-000305](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000305) · [00:15:53 · asr-000331](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000331)

### FY 2027 request, NEP recommendation, and reduced protection lines

Of the FY 2027 NEP-based budget, 68.32% was for personnel services, 24.42% for operating expenses and 7.26% for capital outlay; DOJ attributed the year-on-year rise mainly to salaries and compensation. The ₱13.93-billion Office of the Secretary budget allocated 70.67% to personnel, 12.47% to MOOE, and 16.86% to capital outlay. NPS funding rose 7.64%, but anti-trafficking, anti-cybercrime, and the stated OSEC-CISCM line were reduced, while the special-enforcement and protection subprogram fell from ₱402 million to ₱204 million. Corrections-program funding fell 21.05%; pardons and parole fell 2.63% to ₱37 million; and victim compensation fell from ₱19 million to ₱8 million. Legal staff was recommended ₱205 million, 4.59% above 2026, while the presentation retained high service targets across these reduced lines.

[00:19:47 · asr-000374](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000374) · [00:21:47 · asr-000389](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000389)

### BuCor, immigration, land registration, and NBI allocations

For four operating agencies, DOJ presented ₱11.93 billion for BuCor, 9.66% above 2026, with targets to safekeep about 56,454 persons deprived of liberty daily and place 98.13% in rehabilitation programs. BI's ₱2.98-billion recommendation was 35.8% lower, while it was expected to clear 99.99% of foreign arrivals and departures and dispose of 95.91% of intelligence cases within 60 days. LRA was allotted ₱3.28 billion, 13.70% above its ₱2.88-billion 2026 budget, with targets to issue at least 93.62% of titles and annotate 95.64% of deeds within 20 days of complete submissions. NBI's ₱3.03-billion recommendation was 22.34% below its ₱3.9-billion 2026 budget, with targets to process more than 6.6 million clearance applications, issue at least 98% within ten minutes, and conduct at least 50,000 investigations.

[00:24:17 · asr-000417](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000417)

### Government counsel, probation, asset recovery, legal aid, and ADR budgets

The remaining agency proposals combined increases with cuts. OGCC was recommended ₱310 million, 2.21% below 2026, with targets to file all pleadings on time and complete 82% of contract reviews and legal opinions within prescribed periods. OSG rose 13.15% to ₱2.14 billion, targeting action on at least 98% of referred cases, 99% of those within 30 days, and resolution of all naturalization petitions. PPA fell 3.61% to ₱1.25 billion while targeting 98.96% client compliance and 98.69% rehabilitation participation. PCGG rose 9.35% to ₱339 million and targeted at least ₱846 million in surrendered or sequestered assets to be submitted to the Bureau of the Treasury. PAO rose 6.10% to ₱7.101 billion, with an 83.05% favorable-judgment target and a two-hour standard for nonjudicial-service requests. OADR fell 16.27% to ₱139 million but retained targets to train 1,880 practitioners and implementers and act on all accreditation applications. DOJ Undersecretary Majken Anika S. Gran-Ong closed by seeking favorable consideration while committing DOJ to its justice-service and reform mandates; no restoration or augmentation was announced in the presentation.

[00:26:29 · asr-000437](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000437)

## Budget proposal and requests

### Budget basis and fiscal comparison

The DOJ family's year-on-year budget increase mainly reflected salaries and compensation. The department sought restorations for protection work, staffing and systems; the specific proposed additions and their committee treatment follow below.

[00:19:47 · asr-000374](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000374) · [00:20:54 · asr-000383](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000383)

### Restoration requests for protection work and DOJ agencies

Rep. Jan "Atty. JP" Padiernos supported a DOJ increase, especially for NBI and BI. Rep. Jonathan Keith T. Flores asked to restore anti-trafficking, anti-cybercrime and online-child-protection funding to 2026 levels; presiding Rep. Mikaela Angela B. Suansing noted the request. DOJ later specified proposed additions of PHP 75.9 million for NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM and PHP 49 million for IACAT, plus restoration of the Office of Cybercrime line from its PHP 12.273-million NEP level toward its PHP 102.2-million 2026 level. Reps. Sarah Jane I. Elago, Percival "Perci" Cendaña, Ann Matibag and Leila M. de Lima supported restorations or stronger funding in related areas, while Rep. Ma. Cristina Talavera Lopez advocated more DOJ and OSG operating funds. These were requests and expressions of support; no appropriation vote was recorded.

[01:11:14 · asr-000981](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000981) · [02:10:23 · asr-002096](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002096) · [02:50:45 · asr-002835](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002835) · [03:14:09 · asr-003378](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003378) · [03:20:38 · asr-003494](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003494) · [03:27:41 · asr-003580](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003580) · [03:29:35 · asr-003604](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003604)

### Requests from Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez and DOJ agencies

Rodriguez sought restoration of DOJ Office of the Secretary operating funds, the three protection offices, NBI funding, and specific agency projects. DOJ Secretary Fredderick A. Vida gave an approximate PHP 130-million restoration figure for the three protection offices, which does not reconcile with the earlier individual figures. Rodriguez raised PHP 882 million for NBI; its director separately sought agent hazard pay of PHP 15,000 per month, up from PHP 4,000. PAO narrowed its staffing request to roughly PHP 700 million for about 200 lawyers and 400 staff. BI asked for PHP 276.28 million for building completion and PHP 1.200527811 billion for IT systems. OSG sought PHP 123 million for digital transformation while clarifying its building installment was already in the NEP. OADR proposed PHP 26 million to return to PHP 168 million, and PPA identified PHP 8.198 million over three years for officer training. BuCor requested more funding while asking that its current allocation be protected; OGCC discussed its optimization plan without specifying an increase. Rodriguez promised to work on the requests in later budget deliberations; no committee restoration was adopted in this exchange.

[03:45:21 · asr-003885](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003885) · [03:47:18 · asr-003915](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003915) · [03:49:30 · asr-003959](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003959) · [03:50:23 · asr-003973](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003973) · [03:51:50 · asr-004006](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004006) · [03:53:25 · asr-004046](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004046) · [03:54:31 · asr-004089](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004089) · [03:57:50 · asr-004145](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004145) · [04:00:04 · asr-004193](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004193)

## Rep. Dadah Kiram Ismula

### Tacloban shooting, online grooming, and extremist-group surveillance

Ismula asked what DOJ had found about the reach of nihilistic violent extremism in relation to school shootings, whether the Tacloban gun owner had been charged, and what groups and next moves authorities had identified. Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida said the Tacloban prosecutor's office had issued a resolution indicting the gun owner for criminal negligence. He described a pattern in which children playing or participating in games could be invited into separate chat rooms by so-called groomers, where the engagement escalated in violence and point-scoring. He withheld operational details because law-enforcement work was ongoing and urged families to monitor children's gaming contacts. When Ismula pressed for the groups' identities, Vida offered a confidential report rather than public disclosure. NBI Director Melvin Matibag added that a Philippine delegation including DICT, the Office of the Executive Secretary, NBI, and the Speaker's office would meet Meta officials in Singapore. He said NBI had treated Tacloban as non-isolated and was monitoring the group; the reviewed transcript refers to attacks in coming months but retains `[unclear]` immediately before “attacks.” Matibag said personalities and their whereabouts had been identified, but NBI would act only when sufficiently certain.

[00:32:41 · asr-000518](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000518) · [00:33:15 · asr-000527](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000527) · [00:36:17 · asr-000565](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000565)

### Religious profiling and evidence-led investigations

Citing the recent Zamboanga City case, Ismula asked how DOJ would prevent religious profiling or double standards in sensitive investigations. Vida said DOJ would apply no labels and would follow only the evidence, with neither additions nor omissions. Ismula then placed on record that Muslims oppose extremism and terrorism influencing children, while warning that equating Muslims with terrorism could expose communities to human-rights violations; she urged agencies to focus on the conduct and problem rather than religion.

[00:38:18 · asr-000588](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000588) · [00:38:35 · asr-000592](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000592)

### Overlapping ancestral titles and the missing program-allocation detail

Ismula relayed complaints from Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Cultural Communities that transfer certificates continued to be issued over land already covered by NCIP ancestral-domain titles and asked for concrete LRA action. LRA Administrator Gerardo Sirios said LRA was coordinating with NCIP, its BARMM counterpart, DENR and the Land Management Bureau, and was drafting an agreement to improve registration of ancestral-domain and ancestral-land titles. He stressed that Registries of Deeds are the final registration point, while title authority originates through DENR/LMB patents, DAR instruments, NCIP titles, or judicial titling. Asked for a specific LRA program and its NEP allocation, Sirios referred to an evaluated public-private partnership still under negotiation and interagency mapping of issued and overlapping titles; he did not state an allocation amount or identify a funded program dedicated to the overlap problem.

[00:39:46 · asr-000613](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000613) · [00:40:39 · asr-000628](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000628) · [00:43:17 · asr-000664](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000664)

### JAO No. 1 coordination and an unfinished overlap policy

Ismula asked how LRA was using Joint Administrative Order No. 1 to prevent NCIP, DENR, and DAR title conflicts. Sirios initially described the JAO as an interagency issuance associated with DAR; Ismula clarified that it covered the land-titling agencies, including LRA. On the current coordination problem, Sirios said NCIP had stepped out of the JAO framework and that earlier talks under the former justice secretary had not produced a new arrangement. He said discussions were continuing toward concrete action or policy on overlapping titles. Ismula sought a commitment to sustain interagency coordination, but the round moved on without a separate express acceptance or timetable.

[00:44:00 · asr-000671](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000671) · [00:44:08 · asr-000675](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000675) · [00:45:10 · asr-000686](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000686)

### Manobo Pulangiyon lot-status certificate and requested committee update

Ismula asked whether LRA could issue within the month the requested certificate of no overlap for CADT 261 of the Manobo Pulangiyon in Bukidnon. She said lots 1 and 2 were clear and lot 3 was needed to complete a 1,111-hectare ancestral domain. Sirios clarified that LRA's document was a certificate of lot status and that issuance depended on DENR supplying the requested technical descriptions or records; with those records, LRA could release it. Asked again about the month-end target, he said they would try. Ismula requested an update because the matter had carried over from the previous budget cycle, and Keith Tan directed that the requested reports be furnished to the committee and Ismula's office. No firm issuance date was given.

[00:46:08 · asr-000691](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000691) · [00:46:51 · asr-000696](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000696) · [00:47:33 · asr-000706](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000706)

## Rep. Jan "Atty. JP" Padiernos

### BuCor decongestion, regionalization, and release processing

Padiernos cited an approximately ₱55 billion requirement for regional facilities, only ₱676 million in capital outlay, and reported NBP overcrowding of 387%, and asked how BuCor could close NBP by 2028. BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said appropriations since 2022, including the hoped-for capital outlay, totaled more than ₱5 billion and would add 11,390 PDL spaces; he placed current NBP congestion at about 180% and overall BuCor congestion at 204%. He described repairs, transfers, a proposed lease of the Muntinlupa property that could generate ₱8 billion over five years, a Nueva Ecija reception and diagnostic center, a possible Laguna-Palawan land swap, and coordination for a Cebu facility. Padiernos asked that regionalization avoid separating NCR detainees from their families; Catapang said the plan was to keep Luzon detainees in Luzon. Vida added that digitized records and faster processing for qualified releases, including GCTA cases, complemented new facilities; he reported 32,932 releases since 2022 and described DOJ's target as not keeping a qualified PDL a day longer, while acknowledging that the release system was not perfect.

[00:48:27 · asr-000716](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000716) · [00:49:01 · asr-000721](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000721) · [00:55:04 · asr-000789](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000789)

### DOJ budget utilization and staffing vacancies

Padiernos said the presentation listed performance indicators but not the prior-year budget utilization and requested the utilization report as of the hearing date. The chair directed DOJ to furnish Padiernos and the committee, and Vida agreed. Padiernos also requested a comprehensive vacancy report for DOJ and every attached agency. Vida committed to submit it and gave an Office of the Secretary summary: 7,651 authorized plantilla positions, 6,145 filled, and 1,506 unfilled. He said the prosecutor-appointment timeline had fallen from almost two years to four or five months and that DBM had added 1,002 prosecutorial positions to the prior 2,966, bringing the total to 3,968; he also cited 103 applicants for one prosecutor vacancy as evidence of stronger recruitment interest.

[00:54:23 · asr-000783](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000783) · [00:54:56 · asr-000787](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000787) · [00:57:34 · asr-000826](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000826) · [00:58:13 · asr-000834](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000834)

### Petitions-for-review backlog and new clearance system

Padiernos asked how DOJ was addressing accumulated petitions for review. Vida reported a total Office of the Secretary docket of about 27,000 and said petitions filed from November 12, 2025 onward had been delegated among eight undersecretaries with a 100% clearance-rate mandate for incoming work, then running about 200 petitions weekly or 800 monthly. For older work, he first described a January 1, 2022-to-November 11, 2025 cutoff, then referred to roughly 16,000 pending cases from 2020 to 2025; he said almost 500 had been resolved. Litigants in pre-2020 matters were being asked to confirm continuing interest. Vida said DOJ hoped to share a progress update with the committee by the end of the quarter; the overall backlog remained work in progress.

[00:59:49 · asr-000859](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000859) · [01:00:18 · asr-000864](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000864)

### Immigration e-gates, procurement, and service standards

Padiernos asked how many e-gates were operating at NAIA, Clark, Mactan-Cebu, and Davao; the status of Phases 1 and 2; and whether provider service-level agreements and contractor penalties covered downtime. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony M. Viado reported 78 gates at NAIA Terminals 1 and 3, three at Clark, three at Mactan-Cebu, and two at Davao. He said the 2025 Phase 1 award was ₱1.5 billion against an intended ₱1.9 billion budget, saving ₱400 million; the ₱1.3 billion Phase 2 terms of reference were underway, and Phase 3 was ₱565 million. He committed that Phases 1 and 2 would be fully obligated by November 2026. Asked when Phase 2 would be finished, he used both completion and full-obligation language for that same date, without distinguishing an operational-deployment date. Viado confirmed service agreements existed and were under continuing review, but the exchange did not specifically answer whether penalties had already been collected.

[01:04:06 · asr-000905](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000905) · [01:04:42 · asr-000912](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000912)

### PCGG recoveries, budget returns, and new office rent

Padiernos asked PCGG to compare its budget with its remittances and identify a proposal that would not require added congressional funding. Sadang reported historical recoveries of ₱183 billion in cash and ₱125 billion in assets, including ₱8.3 billion in recovered assets during the current administration, while PCGG's historical annual budget had remained below ₱200 million. He said the agency now had a larger budget because it would begin paying office rent; PCGG had sold an EDSA property for ₱800 million to San Miguel, whose building PCGG was occupying in part under the prior arrangement. The response described returns and the reason for higher spending but did not state a distinct no-additional-funding proposal.

[01:08:06 · asr-000956](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000956) · [01:08:28 · asr-000959](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000959) · [01:10:00 · asr-000970](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000970)

### Support for DOJ and explanation of NBI and BI budget reductions

Padiernos cited DOJ's reported 99% case-disposition rate and above-90% prosecution success rate, manifested support for the proposed budget and for increases, especially for NBI and BI, and asked why those agencies showed 33% and 27% reductions. Vida attributed the reductions to what he believed was DBM's assessment of the two agencies' absorptive capacity and said catch-up plans for 2026 were intended to help them cope with their respective budget releases.

[01:10:40 · asr-000976](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000976) · [01:11:59 · asr-000988](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-000988)

## Rep. Jose Manuel Tadeo "Chel" I. Diokno

### Flood-control recoveries and the limits of state-witness immunity

Diokno cited DOJ's reported return of more than ₱841 million from four people implicated in flood-control cases and asked whether the returns were voluntary, whether forfeiture cases had been filed, and whether DOJ had used AMLA coordination, bank-secrecy waivers, or other checks to determine if more assets were concealed. Vida confirmed the returns were voluntary and said they formed part of the witnesses' conditions while they assisted Ombudsman cases in the Sandiganbayan and RTC. He stressed that Witness Protection Program immunity was case- and project-specific: it did not cover undisclosed involvement in other matters, which could still be pursued. Vida did not directly confirm a forfeiture filing, AMLA inquiry, or bank-secrecy waiver for the four individuals.

[01:13:22 · asr-001005](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001005) · [01:14:09 · asr-001013](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001013) · [01:15:08 · asr-001026](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001026)

### Graft-case results and prosecution-success versus conviction rates

Diokno asked for a graft-and-corruption prosecution success rate and questioned whether DOJ's reported 90.8% overall rate could be mistaken for a conviction rate, contrasting it with a 25% conviction-rate figure attributed to then-Secretary Remulla in 2022. Vida said DOJ needed to disaggregate its data and would submit the result to the committee, while cautioning that it would not include cases handled by the Ombudsman. He explained that the prosecution-success measure was mixed and included convictions and court judgments following compromise agreements. Vida recalled a figure of about 20%, rather than 25%, and related Remulla's frustration more specifically to drug cases. He also linked later performance to a higher filing threshold—prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction—and to case build-up and plea bargaining. The exchange did not supply a separate current conviction rate.

[01:16:31 · asr-001045](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001045) · [01:17:11 · asr-001054](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001054) · [01:18:08 · asr-001069](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001069) · [01:18:20 · asr-001071](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001071)

### Dismissed cases, absent witnesses, and a gap in the success metric

Diokno asked whether the prosecution-success calculation captured cases dismissed when witnesses, including police witnesses in drug cases, failed to appear. A DOJ representative said those cases were not captured, after which Vida said DOJ needed to check and would submit an answer. Diokno warned that corruption and other defendants could influence, intimidate, or buy prosecution witnesses and that leaving such dismissals outside the metric concealed an important failure mode. Vida agreed and said DOJ would monitor it. Because the answer moved from an immediate 'not captured' to a promise to check, the metric's definitive treatment of those dismissals remained pending.

[01:20:05 · asr-001088](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001088) · [01:20:48 · asr-001095](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001095) · [01:21:33 · asr-001106](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001106)

### Anti-corruption coordination and a possible consolidated code

Diokno asked whether DOJ, the Ombudsman, AMLC, and other anti-corruption bodies had a coordination mechanism covering shared needs such as budgets. Vida cited an existing DOJ-Ombudsman memorandum governing investigations and filings: the Ombudsman handles salary grade 27 and above, while DOJ handles lower grades. He also described an ongoing technical working group exploring legislation for a consolidated anti-corruption code. Diokno characterized the current arrangements with AMLC and the Ombudsman as ad hoc; Vida did not identify a standing cross-agency budget committee or a specific AMLC coordination mechanism. The proposed code remained exploratory rather than a completed commitment.

[01:21:42 · asr-001110](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001110) · [01:22:14 · asr-001118](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001118)

### Tracking whether final convictions lead to imprisonment

Citing an older study in which only 10 of 110 people finally convicted of graft were reportedly found serving their sentences, Diokno asked whether government had a centralized database tracking appeals, affirmed convictions, and actual imprisonment. Vida agreed that a directive or legal framework was needed. He said DOJ had begun monitoring cases filed by its prosecutors that were archived because accused persons remained at large, but acknowledged that this was only within DOJ's control and agreed government needed to determine who had actually been sentenced and incarcerated. No existing centralized system or implementation timetable was identified.

[01:23:19 · asr-001134](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001134) · [01:24:57 · asr-001150](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001150)

## Rep. Brian Poe

### NBI attachés abroad and the domestic agent shortage

Poe asked whether NBI had funding under Republic Act No. 10867, Section 7(f), for representatives or attachés in Philippine embassies. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said it had none, but described selected foreign posts as a future plan and a wish-list item, noting that European and U.S. embassy counterparts in the Philippines help address transnational crime. He said overseas deployment would require more agents and reported only about 300 NBI agents nationwide. Poe called the absence of any attaché funding alarming given NBI responsibilities involving POGOs, scam networks, cyber fraud, online gambling, Interpol matters, trafficking, online child sexual exploitation, and international fugitives, and urged the committee to consider it during budget deliberations. No post, staffing number, appropriation, or deployment timetable was committed.

[01:26:03 · asr-001160](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001160) · [01:26:47 · asr-001166](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001166)

### Making the Katarungan Caravan a permanent nationwide legal-service network

Poe raised the DOJ Action Center or Katarungan Caravan as a low-cost way to reach people unable to afford or travel for legal help. He cited roughly ₱8 million in funding, about 15,000 people served so far in 2026, and a trajectory toward more than 25,000 by year-end; Vida agreed with the service figures but stressed that PAO remained the primary legal-aid agency. Vida said the caravan was filling a service gap and that DOJ planned to replace its ad hoc model with permanent protocols and a DOJ Action Center or proposed DOJ Katarungan Office across 250 prosecution field offices. Poe said he believed DOJ had opened around nine new regional centers and asked whether more centers and funding would follow. Vida said the nationwide model had been placed before DBM through DOJ's optimization plan to secure plantilla positions and resources for the 250 offices. Poe estimated government spending at roughly ₱250–₱300 per person served and urged an increase, but the exchange did not establish an approved DBM allocation, staffing level, or rollout timetable.

[01:29:00 · asr-001191](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001191) · [01:29:39 · asr-001198](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001198) · [01:32:18 · asr-001229](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001229)

### PAO's one-lawyer-per-court shortfall and 559 requested items

Poe asked whether PAO could maintain its one-attorney-per-court goal under the current budget. PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta said some district offices could deploy one lawyer per court but the agency still lacked personnel because its work also covered labor matters, preliminary investigations, and other proceedings beyond criminal cases. She said PAO was requesting 559 additional items and asked Congress to address the deficiency. She also said PAO supported the Katarungan Caravan by assigning lawyers. The response did not say how many courts or districts remained uncovered or that the 559 items had been funded.

[01:33:42 · asr-001255](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001255) · [01:34:16 · asr-001260](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001260)

### What PAO's budget increase covers and its grassroots-service commitment

Poe cited PAO's rise from roughly ₱6.6 billion in 2026 to ₱7.1 billion in the NEP and characterized the increase as about ₱400 million, then asked whether it funded the requested items. Rueda-Acosta said it did not: she attributed the increase to mandatory SSL VI costs and deficiencies for previously created positions, including 87 lawyers included the prior year, rather than new creations. She said lawyer salaries were being brought to parity with new prosecutors and reported that PAO served 16 million people in the previous year and about 6 million through June. Poe argued the NEP remained insufficient if PAO still needed additional items and urged that any additional items support the Katarungan Caravan, DOJ outreach, and grassroots work. Rueda-Acosta expressly committed to that use if the requested items were provided, and added that PAO lawyers personally assisted overseas Filipino workers when called on by DMW and OWWA. The round recorded the conditional commitment but no enacted augmentation or position-allocation plan.

[01:35:36 · asr-001284](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001284) · [01:35:55 · asr-001290](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001290) · [01:37:19 · asr-001317](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001317)

## Rep. Renee Louise M. Co

### Higher prosecution evidence threshold, filing outcomes, and requested metrics

Co asked about DOJ's 2024 shift from probable cause to prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction, including whether it reduced filings and improved conviction rates. Vida said the aim was to ensure prosecutors were ready to win before filing, reduce abusive multiple filings against people unable to afford counsel, and exercise DOJ's recognized executive authority to decide which criminal cases proceed. Prosecutor General Fadullon said fewer cases were being filed because prosecutors first evaluated evidence and coordinated earlier with law enforcement, describing those elevated as quality cases. Asked for filing and conviction figures to supplement the reported disposition rate, he cited 395,000 preliminary investigations but said DOJ still had to disaggregate resolutions for filing versus dismissal and committed to provide the data.

[01:38:36 · asr-001338](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001338) · [01:39:28 · asr-001351](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001351) · [01:41:33 · asr-001381](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001381)

### Dismissed terrorism cases and review of pre-standard or pending prosecutions

Co cited terrorism-financing cases dismissed for jurisdictional or evidentiary defects, including the CERNET case, and asked why cases still failed after the higher threshold. Fadullon said prosecutors could believe evidence met the standard yet courts could decide differently, and cited absent witnesses or unavailable evidence among possible causes. He said matters initiated before the new quantum but not yet elevated to court would be scrutinized, returned for more evidence when needed, and not elevated if insufficient. For cases already pending in court, however, he said DOJ could not simply withdraw them once proceedings were underway; it would consider judicial observations and could seek certiorari when it believed a court committed error or grave abuse. Co also referred to earlier DOJ counterterrorism-task-force data in which roughly half the cases were pending and about one-fifth had been dismissed for insufficient evidence. No wholesale withdrawal or case-by-case review timetable was committed.

[01:43:20 · asr-001398](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001398) · [01:44:55 · asr-001409](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001409) · [01:46:40 · asr-001461](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001461) · [01:47:09 · asr-001475](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001475) · [01:47:56 · asr-001500](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001500) · [01:49:04 · asr-001534](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001534)

### Counterterrorism case data, interagency coordination, and an immigration case study

Co requested an updated status breakdown for the 106 cases previously reported under DOJ's task force on counterterrorism and terrorism financing, including dismissed, pending, and investigation-stage matters, and asked about coordination beyond DOJ. Fadullon said prosecutors coordinated with the Anti-Terrorism Council, military counterparts, and the intelligence community to ensure evidence existed and was sufficient. Co then described an alleged case in which Bureau of Immigration agents wearing anti-terror-task-force vests approached a Filipino-American over an asserted overstaying issue, followed by a frustrated-murder prosecution, and asked what agencies, guidelines, and safeguards governed such operations. Vida said the system was not perfect; DOJ headed the technical working group on designation, while BI, PNP, and NBI agents performed different law-enforcement functions, and DOJ matters would be assessed on evidence and law. He said alleged abuse could be reported to the Justice Secretary or the relevant bureau commissioner, while declining to prejudge error in the cited case. Vida committed to submit Co's requested data through the committee.

[01:50:48 · asr-001586](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001586) · [01:51:45 · asr-001612](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001612) · [01:52:18 · asr-001622](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001622) · [01:53:30 · asr-001658](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001658) · [01:55:16 · asr-001708](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001708)

### NBP transfer scale, operating cost, destinations, and reporting commitment

Co asked how BuCor funded the mass transfer associated with the reported movement of 15,730 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) ahead of New Bilibid Prison's possible closure. Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said transfers occurred yearly, were supported from BuCor MOOE, and cost about ₱15,000–₱20,000 per PDL. He said NBP congestion had fallen from 300% when he arrived to almost 200%, but did not give the measurement dates or denominator. Co named reported destinations in Mindoro, Palawan, Zamboanga, Leyte, and Davao del Norte; Catapang confirmed transfers to other prison and penal farms and committed to submit the number of PDLs transferred to each operating facility outside NBP. The exchange did not reconcile Co's 15,730 figure with annual transfers, state total transfer spending, or provide the promised facility-by-facility list.

[05:11:35 · asr-005769](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005769) · [05:12:17 · asr-005774](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005774) · [05:13:42 · asr-005788](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005788) · [05:13:45 · asr-005789](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005789)

### Family proximity, receiving-facility capacity, services, and planned dormitories

Invoking Nelson Mandela Rule 59, Co asked how BuCor would avoid moving PDLs far from family, counsel, and support networks. Catapang said people receiving visits in Muntinlupa were not transferred and claimed most of roughly 20,000 PDLs then at NBP had no visitors and wanted transfer to less congested, more secure facilities. He did not address proximity to counsel or other support networks, establish a formal preference process, or explain how family location was verified. Asked whether receiving colonies had adequate housing, medical services, and staff, Catapang said BuCor asked each facility whether it could absorb more PDLs and relied on affirmative responses. He described providing vehicles for hospital transport and said construction begun in 2022 remained ongoing, with dormitory capacity for more than 11,000 additional PDLs expected by 2028. Co also asked whether the budget contained additional resources to prevent services from being compromised; Catapang emphasized support services and construction but gave no budget item, amount, staffing ratio, medical-capacity measure, certification standard, or firm completion guarantee.

[05:13:57 · asr-005793](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005793) · [05:14:42 · asr-005801](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005801) · [05:15:12 · asr-005816](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005816) · [05:15:32 · asr-005826](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005826) · [05:15:55 · asr-005838](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005838) · [05:16:13 · asr-005847](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005847)

### Conditional 2028 NBP closure, phased land release, petition, and Luzon sites

Asked whether all PDLs would leave NBP, Catapang gave 2028 as the closure target only if BuCor could manage it and said people would remain if no placement was available. He proposed closing the medium-security compound near the prime Daang Hari frontage first, moving roughly 5,000 PDLs while leaving the minimum- and maximum-security compounds temporarily, and said freeing about 200 hectares could help prison construction and transfers; no land-disposition decision, valuation, financing mechanism, or binding closure schedule was stated. Co then raised a petition by about 45 PDLs, filed through the human-rights organization Kapatid, asking to remain at NBP. Catapang said BuCor was aware and would respond, suggesting they might be among the last transferred. He cited 60 hectares in Nueva Ecija provided by Governor Umali for Luzon PDLs and said BuCor was negotiating for about 500 hectares in Siniloan, Laguna for people from southern Luzon and Metro Manila. The Nueva Ecija site's readiness was not established, the Laguna land remained under negotiation, and the petition's disposition was unresolved. Co closed by urging maximum respect for PDL preferences, human rights, and applicable processes under the Mandela Rules; the round adopted no transfer moratorium or rights protocol.

[05:17:22 · asr-005880](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005880) · [05:17:37 · asr-005887](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005887) · [05:18:56 · asr-005925](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005925) · [05:19:20 · asr-005938](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005938)

## Rep. Jonathan Keith T. Flores

### Cuts to anti-trafficking, cybercrime, and child-protection work

Flores questioned the reductions for anti-trafficking, cybercrime, and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children in the FY 2027 NEP, citing cuts of 41%, 71%, and later 58.93%, respectively. DOJ Assistant Secretary Michelle Anne Lapuz said DOJ's Human Security and Privacy cluster was concerned because sextortion, online scams, OSAEC, online illegal recruitment, and NVE were rising technology-facilitated threats. She acknowledged limits in national procurement and local-task-force capacity but argued that cutting funds would impede capacity-building and asked at minimum for restoration to 2026 levels. Lapuz confirmed that amendments to the OSAEC law were a LEDAC priority and said the cut could set implementation back two or three steps just after rollout of the National Strategic Action Plan Against OSAEC and CSAEM. She linked sustained and improving responses to retaining the Philippines' Tier 1 status in the U.S. trafficking-in-persons report, while warning that losing it could have economic consequences.

[01:55:34 · asr-001717](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001717) · [01:55:54 · asr-001727](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001727) · [01:58:49 · asr-001813](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001813)

### Cybercrime infrastructure, procurement capacity, and staffing

On the 71% anti-cybercrime reduction, Flores asked how DOJ could respond as more offenses used the internet and digital devices. Lapuz said many cyber-enabled crimes were already being perpetrated through AI systems and that restoring the Office of Cybercrime's 2026 funding would only maintain the current pace. She identified needs for IT infrastructure, training, investigative and policy staff, and international information exchange supporting victim rescue and suspect identification. Asked why prior funds had not been absorbed, she said high-ticket programs were earmarked but needed timely procurement, said a Malacañang directive had reduced MOOE expenses by 20%, and proposed alternative procurement arrangements such as empowered regional bids and awards committees. Lapuz said NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM's existing plantilla was full, DBM had not allowed temporary JO or COS hiring, and the council needed roughly 79 additional plantilla positions; she also noted secondary-trauma risks for current staff.

[01:59:54 · asr-001844](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001844) · [02:00:13 · asr-001846](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001846) · [02:02:37 · asr-001872](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001872)

### Restoration basis and international sex-offender information sharing

Asked how to address the cluster's funding problems, Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida proposed broadly mirroring 2026. He cautiously read the figures as showing that an unexplained 'SICA' amount added by Congress to the 2026 budget and carried into the GAA was not mirrored in the 2027 NEP, rather than treating the cut as definitively caused by weak absorptive capacity. He distinguished finished one-time spending from recurring MOOE and personnel costs and agreed that restoring the funding at least to the prior level was important for Tier 1 status and international engagement. Vida described efforts to obtain foreign sex-offender information, but said European data-privacy rules constrained direct data access; police-assistance and mutual-legal-assistance channels and continued counterpart relationships were possible routes. Flores reiterated the request to restore the anti-trafficking, cybercrime, and OSAEC lines to 2026 levels. Suansing noted the request and said the committee would take up DOJ operationalization requests at the proper time, but did not commit to restoration.

[02:03:26 · asr-001883](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001883) · [02:03:32 · asr-001889](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001889) · [02:05:42 · asr-001955](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-001955) · [02:10:40 · asr-002105](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002105)

### Prosecutor positions after courts are created and organized

Flores asked whether each newly created court generated a corresponding prosecutor position. Vida said the legal ratio was two prosecutors per regional trial court and one prosecutor per municipal or other first-level court, but that under DOJ's agreement with DBM the position request is triggered only after the Supreme Court organizes the court. Flores argued that organization often takes at least five years even when Congress has already created and funded a court, leaving both court funds and prosecutor staffing delayed; Vida agreed this was a real problem. He said the National Prosecution Service law was enacted in 2010 but implementation began only in 2024, after fourteen years without newly created prosecutor positions. Vida cited an ongoing creation of 1,000 positions and described a path from about 2,700 to 4,600 prosecutors by June 2028. No change to the court-organization trigger or shorter timetable was committed.

[02:07:21 · asr-002005](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002005) · [02:07:30 · asr-002009](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002009) · [02:09:21 · asr-002065](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002065)

## Rep. Allan U. Ty

### Prosecution indicators and the petitions-for-review backlog

Ty asked Vida to confirm prosecution indicators: a 99.12% criminal-complaint resolution figure and rates of 89.35% in FY2025 and 85.25% in the first half of 2026 for cases pending within 120 days. Vida confirmed and clarified that these covered National Prosecution Service field offices, not petitions for review before the Office of the Secretary. For petitions, Vida reported more than 400 resolutions since he assumed office—about 2.5% of roughly 16,000 cases filed from January 1, 2020 through November 11, 2025—plus approximately 10,000 older cases. He said a 60-day benchmark was not attainable at the current volume of about 200 new petitions weekly; eight undersecretaries had been authorized to resolve them, each targeting 100 monthly. Vida expected a clearer picture of the 16,000-case inventory after the first quarter of the next year, not full clearance by then, and committed to submit annual breakdowns for both the backlog and year-by-year resolutions.

[02:11:04 · asr-002117](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002117) · [02:11:25 · asr-002127](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002127) · [02:12:08 · asr-002148](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002148) · [02:12:22 · asr-002153](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002153) · [02:14:34 · asr-002215](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002215) · [02:16:00 · asr-002241](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002241)

### DOJ catch-all maintenance and operating expenses

Ty asked what DOJ's FY2027 'other maintenance and operating expenses' covered. A DOJ budget representative first gave the amount as ₱114.309 million, then identified advertising, printing and publication, representation, transportation and delivery, building and equipment rent, ICT software subscriptions, and other subscriptions. Asked separately about the residual 'other similar expenses' label, the representative's specific item was [unclear] and the answer only assumed it would cover possible increases in similar objects of expenditure. The latter category therefore remained unexplained in concrete terms.

[02:16:13 · asr-002243](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002243) · [02:17:59 · asr-002253](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002253)

### Proposed BMIS public-private model and passenger-fee split

Ty asked Commissioner Viado to explain the Border Management Information System and its financing. Viado described an AI- and biometric-driven border-control system intended to identify people before they reached the Philippines. He said a private proponent would shoulder about ₱10.7 billion during the first five years and another ₱52.5 billion in capital and maintenance over the following 20 years. Asked for the government's share, Viado instead described a roughly US$4 passenger charge, split US$3.80 to the private proponent and US$0.20 to government; he did not identify a government capital contribution. When Ty asked about national-government funding, Viado said existing allocations were insufficient and the PPP would fill gaps; he then distinguished the broader proposed system from the separately government-funded e-gates project.

[02:19:29 · asr-002269](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002269) · [02:19:39 · asr-002271](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002271) · [02:20:33 · asr-002279](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002279) · [02:20:37 · asr-002281](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002281)

### E-gate appropriations, unobligated funds, and procurement delays

On the separate e-gates project, Viado and BI budget staff said DBM had released a ₱1.9 billion FY2024 SARO, the accepted Phase 1 award was ₱1.5 billion, and ₱400 million was saved. Staff described Phase 1 as fully obligated; when Ty separately asked how much had been released, staff answered ₱1.5 billion despite the earlier ₱1.9 billion SARO-release statement. No separate disbursement amount was supplied. For Phase 2, the ₱1.3 billion FY2025 SARO had been released but remained unobligated while its terms of reference awaited DOJ review. Ty separately cited ₱4.071 billion in total unobligated FY2025 allotments; the response said these primarily concerned e-gates but did not reconcile the full amount. Viado attributed delays to a failed Phase 1 bidding and donated NAIA e-gates that forced revised specifications; the contract was awarded in December 2025, delaying Phase 2, while Phase 3 carried ₱565 million for FY2026. He committed to award Phase 2 and other FY2025–2026 projects within the current year and to implement the modernization program as scheduled, but gave no more precise completion date. Ty deferred remaining questions to a second round.

[02:22:50 · asr-002302](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002302) · [02:22:59 · asr-002304](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002304) · [02:24:44 · asr-002328](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002328) · [02:25:25 · asr-002338](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002338) · [02:26:42 · asr-002365](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002365)

### BI border-system appropriations, obligation status, and November commitment

Ty compared appropriations for the enhancement of the Border Management Information System across fiscal years. For 2024, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado first recalled ₱1.9 billion, while Ty cited ₱2.6 billion; Viado then explained that ₱1.9 billion covered e-Gates and ₱700 million covered a related information, computerization, and technology component under one program, which sums to ₱2.6 billion. For 2025, Viado first gave ₱2.1 billion, while Ty cited ₱3.825 billion; Viado said the latter included ₱1.3 billion for e-Gates phase 2 and agreed with Ty's rounded ₱3.8 billion total, but supplied no complete component breakdown reconciling the initial ₱2.1 billion with ₱3.825 billion. Viado gave ₱697.542 million for 2026, reported that almost 98% of the 2024 amount had been obligated, deferred the exact 2024 release figure pending a records check, and said capital outlay for 2025 and 2026 had not yet been obligated. Ty cited, and Viado confirmed, unobligated allotments of ₱4.071 billion for 2025 and ₱3.558 billion for 2026 associated with the program. Those balances exceed the stated same-year appropriations by ₱246 million and ₱2.860458 billion, respectively; the exchange did not explain whether continuing appropriations or another scope difference accounted for the mismatch. Viado attributed the delay largely to a late-2024 failure of bidding followed by rebidding completed in 2025, and committed to full obligation by November of the hearing year, supported by weekly monitoring meetings. The round supplied neither the deferred 2024 release figure nor a later record that the November obligation commitment was met.

[04:52:50 · asr-005406](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005406) · [04:53:06 · asr-005414](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005414) · [04:58:53 · asr-005571](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005571) · [04:59:03 · asr-005577](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005577)

### E-Gates versus the proposed PPP enhanced border-control system

Ty asked whether the program was the same as the proposal raised earlier by Rep. Erice. Viado said the e-Gates project was different from the Enhanced Border Control System proposed through a public-private partnership. He said e-Gates were intended to integrate with a broader CAIS project involving Interpol systems, the Advanced Passenger Information System, biometrics, claimed access to a billion facial images, reactive screening based on facial responses to questioning, and open-source internet information. Viado confirmed that this broader system was under the PPP proposal. The round did not define CAIS, establish the accuracy or safeguards of the described screening capabilities, or report an executed PPP agreement, cost, procurement status, or implementation timetable.

[04:59:57 · asr-005629](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005629) · [05:00:04 · asr-005630](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005630)

### LRA special account and possible funding for unclaimed free patents

Ty asked about the special account in LRA's proposed 2027 budget. LRA Administrator Gerardo P. Sirios first answered approximately ₱1.8 billion, and Ty restated ₱1.780 billion. Sirios identified Fund 151 under PD 1529, said LRA could retain 20% of collections subject to DBM approval of releases while 80% went to the National Treasury, and later said ₱1.7 billion represented only 15% of the 20%; the exchange did not reconcile those formulations. Asked whether the account could pay to register DENR free patents, Sirios said he believed it could cover that work as MOOE or capital outlay. He said LRA had observed several, possibly thousands, of unregistered patents after DENR funding under an agreement was removed, and proposed using some or all of the remaining funding subject to DBM approval and maximization of the retained share. No DBM approval, exact inventory, funding allocation, or implementation commitment was established.

[05:01:32 · asr-005660](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005660) · [05:01:51 · asr-005666](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005666) · [05:02:52 · asr-005681](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005681) · [05:03:06 · asr-005684](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005684)

### Lost-title inventories, reconstitution thresholds, and owner assistance

On safekeeping of titles, Sirios said Registers of Deeds are the repositories for titles and supporting documents and are required under PD 1529 to conduct annual inventories, including lost titles. He said some registries had complied and LRA was monitoring the others, without giving a complete compliance count. On responsibility for a lost registry copy, Sirios said RA 26 as amended by RA 6732 placed judicial reconstitution on the registered owner rather than the Registry of Deeds, and cited a Supreme Court ruling that registries could not file such cases. He described an administrative-reconstitution exception when at least 10% of a registry's titles are lost, but never fewer than 500. If that threshold is not met, he said LRA can only assist owners by providing necessary documents for a court case. The exchange identified no funding for owners, deadline for outstanding inventories, or broader remedy for losses caused while titles were in registry custody.

[05:05:03 · asr-005698](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005698) · [05:05:16 · asr-005701](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005701) · [05:06:05 · asr-005709](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005709) · [05:06:14 · asr-005710](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005710) · [05:06:57 · asr-005718](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005718) · [05:07:03 · asr-005719](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005719)

### Friar Lands records, pending administrative remedies, and Wednesday attendance

Ty asked how a DENR deed of conveyance could be registered when Friar Lands records had been lost or destroyed. Sirios said the OCDC was supposed to be with the Registry of Deeds and the owner's copy with the Land Management Bureau, but some registry records had been damaged or destroyed and LMB's Binondo head office had burned, causing loss of some owner's copies. He said LRA was talking with LMB after the moratorium on deeds of conveyance was lifted and was still exploring administrative remedies for awardees or claimants. A planned meeting had been postponed because of the weather, and Sirios said they would meet soon without naming a date or remedy. At Ty's request, Sirios committed to attend the DENR budget hearing on Wednesday afternoon. That attendance commitment was not itself approval or adoption of an administrative remedy.

[05:08:50 · asr-005733](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005733) · [05:09:10 · asr-005736](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005736) · [05:10:18 · asr-005751](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005751) · [05:10:23 · asr-005753](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005753)

### Friar Lands reconstitution evidence and possible use of derivative titles

Ty asked whether an approved subdivision plan and technical descriptions could support reconstitution of a lost original Friar Land title and issuance of resulting or derivative titles. LRA Administrator Gerardo P. Sirios said R.A. 26, as amended by R.A. 6732, lists supporting documents but does not mention a subdivision plan. He described a hierarchy beginning with the owner's duplicate copy for administrative reconstitution, followed, if unavailable, by a mortgagee's photocopy, and said he thought the law permitted about five types of supporting copies or documents. For Friar Lands with no derivative titles, he said the original certificate of title (OCT) had to be reconstituted. When Ty asked whether already-issued derivative titles could instead support later portions covered by DENR deeds of conveyance, Sirios said LRA would explore that possibility as an administrative remedy and would check the legal basis; he identified only R.A. 26 as amended by R.A. 6732 as the existing reconstitution law. He did not conclude that subdivision documents or derivative titles were legally sufficient, identify a specific administrative procedure, or commit to a decision date.

[05:26:56 · asr-006161](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006161) · [05:27:16 · asr-006171](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006171) · [05:28:23 · asr-006205](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006205) · [05:28:53 · asr-006219](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006219) · [05:29:07 · asr-006226](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006226) · [05:29:11 · asr-006228](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006228)

### Partial cancellation, affected registries, and DENR-hearing attendance commitments

Ty asked why loss or deterioration of the original Friar Land title should prevent issuance to later owners holding deeds of conveyance and approved subdivision records. Sirios said P.D. 1529 required surrender of the owner's duplicate. He explained that the original title should have been fully cancelled upon subdivision and titles for unawarded remaining lots issued in the Republic's name, but partial cancellation instead left portions without titles; he described this as LRA's current dilemma, not a resolved legal finding or remedy. Asked where the problem existed, Sirios answered from memory that Cavite had, he thought, four Friar Lands, cited the Registry of Deeds in Cebu Province, and mentioned an unnamed registry where an OCT copy had been lost; he did not say whether that registry was distinct from the named locations or provide a complete inventory. Ty referred to Sirios's earlier commitment to attend the DENR budget hearing on Wednesday, August 26 at 11:00 a.m., and asked him to bring the Cavite Registries of Deeds. Sirios committed to do so and offered to invite the Cebu registry because of similar issues. These were attendance and coordination commitments, not approval of a reconstitution remedy or confirmation that every named registry had the same facts.

[05:29:21 · asr-006233](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006233) · [05:29:40 · asr-006243](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006243) · [05:30:33 · asr-006250](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006250) · [05:30:43 · asr-006252](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006252) · [05:31:05 · asr-006255](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006255) · [05:31:22 · asr-006257](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006257)

## Rep. Solomon R. Chungalao

### Private payment for expropriation and the Magat Dam legal-opinion request

Chungalao asked whether government could properly expropriate private property for public use when a private corporation paid the compensation. Vida first answered at the general contractual level that public purpose and public funds were elements of eminent domain, while private funds might sometimes procure right-of-way portions in government-private engagements. When Chungalao applied the question to an alleged Magat Dam arrangement—NIA acquired farmers' land but a private corporation paid allegedly unequal compensation—Vida said he did not think that arrangement was within the legal system and that private funds could not be used in that manner. Subject to his express qualification, ‘if I get the briefing right,’ Vida said the Right-of-Way Act required public funds for expropriation and that a violation could create liability. He repeatedly cautioned that any administrative, criminal, or resulting civil consequences depended on the specific acts and fuller facts. Chungalao said the farmers' complaint had remained unresolved since he raised it in the 18th Congress and would write DOJ for a legal opinion. Vida committed to provide a proper briefing or report and coordinate with Chungalao's office; he did not identify a specific offense, liable person, remedy, or resolution timetable during the round.

[02:27:15 · asr-002377](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002377) · [02:28:03 · asr-002394](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002394) · [02:29:05 · asr-002419](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002419) · [02:29:29 · asr-002429](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002429) · [02:31:11 · asr-002447](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002447) · [02:31:53 · asr-002454](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002454)

## Rep. Antonio L. Tinio

### PPA modernization, extreme caseloads, and an unfunded training plan

Tinio asked what problems the proposed Parole and Probation Administration modernization law sought to address. Administrator Bienvenido Benitez Jr. cited entry-level salaries roughly 30 years behind comparable salary grades and a severe workload: 175,000 probationers processed in 2025, about 875 staff, and an officer caseload that had improved from 1:400 to 1:320 but remained far above the UN Office on Drugs and Crime's stated 1:50 ideal. He said PPA had found 55,000 clients unaccounted for or outside the system and received ₱50 million annually through an initiative he called PADS, now a Tier 1 expense. Benitez also reported about 300 promotions and roughly 275 remaining vacancies, and said PPA's computer system was ‘at par’ with what he called NJIS and that PPA would be compliant once the system was turned on. Asked whether upskilling was funded, he said a three-year ladderized probation-officer development program costing ₱8.198 million remained an unapproved wish-list item. He attributed a 35.97% decline in general administration and support services largely to computer-system compliance with what he called ISSP and confirmed that other modernization requests were unfunded. PADS, NJIS, and ISSP were not expanded in this round.

[02:34:29 · asr-002492](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002492) · [02:34:51 · asr-002495](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002495) · [02:35:30 · asr-002512](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002512) · [02:35:42 · asr-002518](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002518) · [02:38:16 · asr-002598](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002598) · [02:38:30 · asr-002604](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002604)

### PAO workload, mandatory-cost growth, and 559 requested positions

Tinio asked whether PAO lawyers were spread too thin. Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta reported 315 cases per lawyer per month and described the staff as severely overworked. She said the budget increase funded 87 previously added items; Tinio characterized the increase as mandatory and asked whether it addressed the continuing caseload shortage. PAO was still requesting 559 additional positions. Rueda-Acosta described PAO's broader work in labor cases, mediation, preliminary investigations, inquests, barangay outreach, DOJ caravans, overseas-worker assistance with DMW and OWWA, an indigenous-peoples project, and counseling by text and social media, for which lawyers received ₱500 monthly. She described a PAO lawyer in each embassy as an aspiration, not a funded plan, and rejected Tinio's suggestion that the request was a fixed additional ₱500 million. Tinio said he would support increasing PAO's budget, but the round recorded no approved augmentation or staffing timetable.

[02:39:45 · asr-002643](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002643) · [02:40:23 · asr-002660](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002660) · [02:40:53 · asr-002675](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002675) · [02:40:56 · asr-002677](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002677) · [02:41:23 · asr-002691](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002691) · [02:41:27 · asr-002693](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002693)

### LRA technology spending and CLOA distribution

Tinio asked why LRA support for operations had increased 86.15%. Administrator Gerardo Sirios attributed it to ICT service improvements and said modern technology was expected to speed title issuance and reduce fake titles. On farmers' delayed certificates of land ownership award and reported anomalies, Sirios said LRA coordinated with the Department of Agrarian Reform and supported its SPLIT Program, which breaks collective CLOAs into individual titles for distribution. He said performance would be measured by speed and title count, gave a target of one million titles, and estimated that about 200,000 had been distributed. The exchange supplied no deadline or investigation result for the reported anomalies.

[02:44:37 · asr-002788](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002788) · [02:44:58 · asr-002793](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002793) · [02:45:23 · asr-002797](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002797) · [02:45:41 · asr-002799](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002799)

### OSG building increase and conditional lease-to-own proposal

Tinio asked how OSG's higher general administration and support-services budget addressed its problems. Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe said a substantial portion was for replacing the 49-year-old OSG main building, whose structural condition had been questioned in a 2022 report and from which many occupants had already moved. She described the proposal as the first installment of a ten-year lease-to-own arrangement: GSIS, which she identified as a government financial institution, would acquire a ready-made building and OSG would pay over ten years. Implementation remained conditional on inclusion in the GAA and issuance of an MYCA; the old building would be sold and the proceeds remitted to the Bureau of the Treasury. No acquisition amount, selected property, or move date was stated.

[02:47:07 · asr-002811](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002811) · [02:47:32 · asr-002814](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002814)

### 2024 spending above the GAA line and the continuing CICA explanation

Tinio cited a ₱168 million 2024 GAA authorization for DOJ confidential expenses and reported actual spending of ₱271.6 million, a difference of ₱103.6 million; he characterized it as more than ₱102 million. DOJ Secretary Fredderick A. Vida referred to a 2015 COA circular governing permitted confidential activities and augmentation or supplementation. He then said DOJ finance records showed a ₱215 million 2023 CICA—expanded in the exchange as Congress-introduced changes and adjustments—that was continuing and crossed into 2024 because MOOE could be used over two years. Vida did not state how much of that ₱215 million was carried into or spent during 2024, identify the specific congressional adjustment, or reconcile the exact ₱103.6 million increase.

[04:38:52 · asr-004975](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004975) · [04:39:39 · asr-004996](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004996) · [04:41:45 · asr-005032](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005032) · [04:41:46 · asr-005033](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005033)

### 2025 surge and the 2025–2026 program breakdowns

Tinio contrasted the ₱168 million 2024 GAA figure with ₱1.524 billion in 2025—about 9.1 times as large, which he called almost tenfold—and ₱729.946 million in 2026. Vida confirmed DOJ's records and gave the 2025 components as ₱1.184 billion for the Office of the Secretary proper, ₱319 million for the Witness Protection Program, ₱15 million for IACAT, ₱475,000 for the Office of Cybercrime, and ₱5 million for NCC-OSAEC. Those stated components total ₱1.523475 billion, ₱525,000 below the reported ₱1.524 billion, and the small difference was not reconciled. For 2026, he stated ₱214 million for the Secretary's office, ₱500 million for Witness Protection, ₱10 million for IACAT, ₱475,000 for Cybercrime, and ₱5 million for NCC-OSAEC. Those components total ₱729.475 million, ₱471,000 below the stated ₱729.946 million, and that difference also was not reconciled. No explanation specific to why the Secretary's office rose to ₱1.184 billion in 2025 was supplied.

[04:43:19 · asr-005078](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005078) · [04:44:03 · asr-005098](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005098)

### Liquidation, the 2027 proposal, undisclosed uses, and Tinio’s safeguards objection

Asked whether the 2025 amount had been used, Vida said DOJ records showed it was fully obligated and liquidated under the COA circular and that there were no notices of disallowance. Tinio repeatedly sought a general account of how roughly ₱1 billion for the Secretary's office was used and what public benefit resulted, while expressly avoiding operational detail that could compromise law enforcement. Vida also confirmed Tinio's cited ₱364 million confidential-fund figure in the 2027 NEP; the round did not adopt or amend that proposal. Vida identified only confidential activities and information gathering, explained that confidential funds were exempt from ordinary procurement and had a distinct liquidation method, and said DOJ followed the rules; he did not provide program categories, outputs, outcome measures, or a public-benefit explanation specific to the 2025 surge. Tinio then argued that blanket procurement exemptions over large amounts were prone to abuse, stated that confidential funds were almost 15% of DOJ OSEC's budget and confidential and intelligence funds almost 50% of the Office of the President's budget, and urged Congress to restore rational limits. Vida confirmed only that the ₱1.524 billion was a historic high based on DOJ records. Tinio's percentages, abuse characterization, and proposed congressional response were his position, not findings or actions adopted in the round.

[04:45:31 · asr-005139](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005139) · [04:45:50 · asr-005150](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005150) · [04:46:33 · asr-005177](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005177) · [04:46:56 · asr-005190](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005190) · [04:47:18 · asr-005200](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005200) · [04:47:21 · asr-005201](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005201) · [04:47:30 · asr-005212](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005212) · [04:47:43 · asr-005217](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005217) · [04:49:17 · asr-005257](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005257) · [04:51:08 · asr-005323](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005323)

## Rep. Sarah Jane I. Elago

### Requested restoration of anti-trafficking, cybercrime, and child-protection funds

Elago asked for the FY2027 funding and actual operating need of DOJ's special enforcement and protection units. Assistant Secretary Michelle Anne Lapuz reported that NCC-OSAEC-CSAEM fell from ₱111.5 million in 2026 to ₱35.6 million in the NEP and requested ₱75.9 million to restore it; IACAT fell from ₱119 million to ₱70 million and sought ₱49 million; and the Office of Cybercrime fell from ₱102.2 million to ₱12.273 million. Lapuz said DOJ had been constrained in its original proposal but the units' operational need remained at the 2026 level. She linked absorptive-capacity concerns to the need for timely procurement and more plantilla positions, while noting that the three units shared the Office of the Secretary's larger budget ceiling. Elago requested the units' original proposals, but the round contains no express submission commitment or approved restoration.

[02:49:24 · asr-002824](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002824) · [02:50:45 · asr-002835](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002835) · [02:54:50 · asr-002880](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002880)

### NBP closure, regionalization, and keeping PDLs near families

Elago asked whether BuCor was receiving requests to keep persons deprived of liberty near their families during transfers ahead of the planned 2028 NBP closure. Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said BuCor allowed requests to delay transfer for as long as it could and cited about ₱5 billion for regionalization, with facilities in Davao, Zamboanga, Leyte, Mindoro, and Palawan. He described a plan to make the 32,000-hectare Palawan site a PEZA zone, transfer what he described as about 70% there, and employ transferred PDLs in the zone, plus 1,700 hectares intended for land after release; 60 hectares in Nueva Ecija; a proposed 500-hectare swap involving UP's 8,000-hectare Siniloan land grant and BuCor land in Palawan; and possible Cebu and additional Mindanao sites. Elago invoked Mandela Rule 59 on placement near homes or social-rehabilitation locations and said her office would coordinate specific concerns with BuCor. Catapang described Davao, Zamboanga, Leyte, Mindoro, and Palawan as existing regional facilities and said Nueva Ecija had provided 60 hectares. The proposed Palawan PEZA employment and post-release land arrangements, UP swap, Cebu placement, and additional Mindanao sites remained plans rather than completed placements.

[02:55:04 · asr-002884](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002884) · [02:56:00 · asr-002899](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002899) · [02:59:38 · asr-002976](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002976)

### CIW trust-fund loss, interim reassignments, and staff accountability

Elago sought an update on reports that only about ₱6 million remained from ₱13 million in PDL trust funds at the Correctional Institution for Women. Catapang said ₱6,454,405 was unaccounted for, the investigation had concluded the prior Saturday, and BuCor was awaiting its report. He said the deputy, office head, and money custodian had been relieved. When Elago questioned their reassignment to headquarters, Catapang said they were attached there to remain available for the investigation. Separately, he cited broader BuCor discipline totals of 43 personnel dismissed, 137 suspended, and 41 reprimanded, and pledged strict accountability even for senior officials. Those agency-wide figures were not findings against the reassigned CIW personnel, and the round did not identify who was responsible for the missing funds.

[03:00:14 · asr-002990](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002990) · [03:00:40 · asr-002996](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-002996) · [03:01:33 · asr-003005](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003005) · [03:02:21 · asr-003019](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003019)

### PDL phone charges, cash controls, and recovery of missing funds

Elago challenged a reported proposal to raise PDL call charges from ₱3 to ₱5 per five minutes. Catapang said such charges were prohibited, were under investigation, and were not tolerated because e-dalaw and scheduled family calls already existed. Asked for a concrete recovery plan and whether the cashless system should be dismantled, he said proven theft would lead to charges and possibly garnishment of responsible persons' assets. He also reported confiscating ₱2 million in cash during an NBP raid, against an authorized PDL cash limit of ₱2,000 weekly or ₱8,000 monthly, and said deposits should be held by the cashier rather than individuals. On restitution, Catapang said BuCor first had to identify roughly 3,000 affected PDLs and each person's loss; he promised an update and guaranteed every effort to recover their money, but did not give Elago's requested pre-plenary timeline. Suansing directed BuCor to provide Elago's office the investigation status.

[03:03:22 · asr-003044](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003044) · [03:04:00 · asr-003063](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003063) · [03:04:25 · asr-003076](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003076) · [03:05:09 · asr-003097](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003097) · [03:06:55 · asr-003148](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003148) · [03:07:29 · asr-003165](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003165) · [03:08:36 · asr-003207](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003207)

### NBI-wide gender-sensitive training, responder support, and requested case reporting

Elago cited a recommendation by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, in its 2023 concluding observations on the Philippines' Ninth Periodic Report, that all law-enforcement personnel receive gender-sensitive investigation and interrogation training. She asked whether NBI had a line item and training coverage beyond its Violence Against Women and Their Children Division (VAWCD), including regional personnel. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the training was included in NBI's Gender and Development program and allocation, in the academy budget and training for entrants, and in international training for agents; he said it applied to all NBI members, particularly agents. That statement did not establish that every member or regional investigator had completed training, and he gave no line-item amount, participant count, regional breakdown, curriculum, frequency, or outcome measure. Asked about critical-incident stress debriefing for VAWCD personnel and other first responders, Matibag answered yes and cited the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTRAD), VAWCD, and Behavioral Science Unit as conducting continuing training and coordination with social workers by area. He did not identify a specific debriefing protocol, personnel coverage, frequency, support entitlement, budget, or outcome. Elago requested the latest report on VAWCD cases, especially technology-facilitated gender-based violence and related cybercrime, but no report or express submission commitment was supplied in the round.

[05:20:59 · asr-005984](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-005984) · [05:22:03 · asr-006016](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006016) · [05:22:49 · asr-006039](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006039) · [05:23:31 · asr-006060](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006060) · [05:24:01 · asr-006075](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006075)

### System-wide PDL-fund inventory, next-week submission, and reported effective cashless policy

Elago asked whether BuCor's Internal Audit Service could investigate the cashless system not only at the Correctional Institution for Women but across all prisons and penal farms. Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. answered that BuCor was already doing it, then specifically described an inventory of all persons deprived of liberty (PDL) funds in every colony and cited ₱2 million in cash confiscated from PDLs. He did not identify the Internal Audit Service as the responsible body or describe an investigation beyond the inventory, and supplied no method, findings, accountability conclusions, or disposition and safeguarding details for the confiscated cash. When Elago asked whether the matter could be included in the report before plenary or required more time, Catapang said BuCor would submit it the following week, but neither the exact contents nor whether the submission would be an inventory, an investigation report, or both was defined. Elago also asked whether BuCor had a uniform or harmonized governing policy for cashless systems. Catapang said policy guidelines and procedures for operating and managing BuCor's Inmate Post Exchange through cashless transactions had been submitted to the UP Law Center and were already effective. This was his reported policy status; no policy text, effective date, approval record, coverage evidence, or implementation result was supplied. Elago requested a copy for the Committee on Appropriations, but the round recorded no express commitment to provide it.

[05:24:34 · asr-006091](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006091) · [05:24:52 · asr-006100](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006100) · [05:25:23 · asr-006115](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006115) · [05:25:31 · asr-006119](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006119) · [05:25:36 · asr-006121](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006121) · [05:25:55 · asr-006131](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006131)

## Rep. Ma. Cristina Talavera Lopez

### Law of the Sea training allocation, utilization, and conditional 2027 plans

Talavera-Lopez asked whether OSG's ₱10 million FY2026 Law of the Sea allocation was part of MOOE and lumped with general training. Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe said Congress had added the amount for Law of the Sea training and capability upgrades and that OSG had created a separate committee and program rather than combining it with other capacity-building activities. Talavera-Lopez then cited only ₱422,000 obligated from the ₱10 million and described utilization as 5%, leaving 95% available with four months in the year; ₱422,000 is 4.22% of ₱10 million, but Berberabe agreed with the member's characterization. Berberabe said most spending was scheduled for the second semester around the tenth anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling and in alignment with DFA activities, including September activities described at different points as foreign-provider training and a Thought Leaders Series, an October project with the UP institute for maritime and Law of the Sea work, an October–November workshop on pleadings, practice, and programs with the Max Planck Institute, and November training for about 80 OSG scholars. She also said OSG was joining negotiations and consultations involving the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and UNCLOS-related work. Asked how OSG would use a retained 2027 allocation to train government lawyers and counter territorial-claim disinformation, Berberabe said focused Law of the Sea training had run since 2017 and described a planned specialized scholarship track for interested OSG lawyers; she did not promise that all government lawyers would be trained, specify a disinformation program, or give outcome targets or a completion timetable. Talavera-Lopez manifested support for increasing DOJ's budget and OSG's MOOE, but no committee funding decision was made in the round.

[03:09:11 · asr-003228](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003228) · [03:09:28 · asr-003236](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003236) · [03:10:35 · asr-003270](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003270) · [03:10:51 · asr-003279](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003279) · [03:13:05 · asr-003346](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003346) · [03:13:26 · asr-003357](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003357)

## Rep. Percival "Perci" Cendaña

### OSAEC and trafficking cuts, rescue capacity, and AI-enabled threats

Cendaña cited proposed cuts of 71%, 58%, and 14% across the OSAEC/CSAEM and trafficking budget items, without mapping each percentage to a named item in this exchange, and asked what the reductions would mean for DOJ's work. Assistant Secretary Michelle Anne Lapuz said they would slow the national response and could prevent priority steps in a four-year National Strategic Action Plan. She said local task-force mechanisms existed but remained underfunded and fragmented, limiting localization, rescue operations, and victim identification. Lapuz asked at minimum to restore NCC-OSAEC and IACAT to their 2026 budget levels. On emerging threats, she said methods including illegal recruitment and grooming were becoming more complex, that youth enticement could be conducted by an AI agent, and that DOJ needed foundational IT infrastructure and response mechanisms that could keep pace. Cendaña supported restoration, but the round recorded no approved funding, implementation list, or rescue-capacity target.

[03:15:01 · asr-003402](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003402) · [03:15:46 · asr-003412](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003412) · [03:18:52 · asr-003466](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003466) · [03:19:05 · asr-003470](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003470)

### BI blacklist safeguards and Agnès Callamard's unresolved entry status

Cendaña raised the risk that blacklists and entry restrictions could be weaponized against human-rights advocates and asked BI to confirm the current restriction status of former UN Special Rapporteur Agnès Callamard. Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado cited BI's general process: domestic and international agency information, Interpol and fugitive-status checks, legal-division review, and consideration by the Board of Special Inquiry and Board of Commissioners. He said blacklist orders were not arbitrary or issued at an individual's behest. On Callamard specifically, Viado said he was sure she was not on an Interpol blacklist, while BI was still confirming her Philippine restriction status and was willing to review that status based on information raised at the hearing. Cendaña welcomed the answer as a willingness to review guidelines and urged protections for advocates, journalists, academics, and UN officials, but Viado had expressly offered only to review Callamard's status. He did not confirm whether a Philippine entry restriction remained active, commit to a general guidelines review, or give a deadline or reporting route.

[03:21:03 · asr-003500](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003500) · [03:22:32 · asr-003519](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003519) · [03:23:49 · asr-003535](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003535) · [03:23:56 · asr-003536](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003536)

## Rep. Ann Matibag

### Support for DOJ protection budgets and the Revised CANE+D Protocol

Matibag manifested concern over reductions affecting OSAEC work, the Bureau of Immigration, and NBI, then highlighted DOJ's Revised CANE+D Protocol for more standardized, coordinated, and child-sensitive handling of violence-against-women-and-children cases. She said the protocol had been launched nationally in August 2025, followed by provincial implementation in Cavite in March 2026 and Cebu in July 2026, and argued that this local rollout deserved FY2027 support. Speaking as chair of the Committee on Women and Gender Equality, Matibag pledged support for increasing DOJ's budget toward its requested level and suggested that members might confer before plenary on how to explain and defend the request. This was a member manifestation: no agency answer, adopted committee amendment, exact restoration amount, or binding funding action occurred in the block.

[03:25:34 · asr-003555](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003555) · [03:26:25 · asr-003565](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003565) · [03:27:58 · asr-003583](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003583)

## Rep. Leila M. de Lima

### Support for restoring DOJ, BuCor, NBI, OSAEC, and IACAT funds

De Lima opened by supporting DOJ's department-wide budget and restoration of cuts affecting OSAEC and IACAT. Comparing the NEP with agency proposals, she cited reductions of 61.82% for DOJ overall, 84.18% for BuCor, and 65.84% for NBI, and invited DOJ, BuCor, NBI, OSG, and PAO to identify priority items that Congress could restore. This was a member manifestation and invitation; no respondent supplied a consolidated wish list or restoration commitment during her round.

[03:29:24 · asr-003599](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003599)

### Agnès Callamard blacklist basis and promised next-day action

De Lima pressed BI on the legal basis for Agnès Callamard's blacklist entry. Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the record cited a national-security concern based on reports from a national-security agency; his answers indicated no known crime or immigration violation, and he offered a fuller report because the action predated his tenure. De Lima cited an August 2026 motion to lift the restriction and a 15-working-day resolution rule. Viado initially said he knew of no pending matter, then committed to check at the office and act on it by the next day. The round did not establish the underlying report, whether the motion was docketed, whether the restriction remained active, or the result of the promised action.

[03:31:25 · asr-003628](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003628) · [03:31:29 · asr-003629](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003629) · [03:32:55 · asr-003658](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003658) · [03:33:01 · asr-003659](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003659) · [03:33:19 · asr-003662](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003662) · [03:33:49 · asr-003669](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003669)

### Proposed CAIS passenger fee and unsigned PPP contract

De Lima questioned a proposed ₱480 CAIS fee and why immigration modernization costs should be passed to travelers. Viado said the unsolicited PPP proposal had no discussed alternative funding source, would provide a biometric and passenger-information border platform, and contemplated ₱10.7 billion in private capitalization over five years with upgrades every four years over a 20-year period. He clarified the proposed charge as ₱240 per ticket, or ₱480 round trip, and cited higher charges in other countries. When asked whether the fee would stay, Viado said it and the contract remained under review, no contract had been signed, DOJ had completed its review, and DOF and other agencies were still reviewing it. No final fee, approval, or implementation date was established.

[03:34:14 · asr-003676](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003676) · [03:34:34 · asr-003684](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003684) · [03:34:49 · asr-003686](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003686) · [03:35:00 · asr-003687](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003687) · [03:36:47 · asr-003707](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003707) · [03:36:55 · asr-003712](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003712)

### Palparan custody and unserved Supreme Court notices

De Lima asked whether retired Major General Jovito Palparan remained confined at NBP and why Supreme Court notices had been returned unserved. She read one envelope's annotation as ‘Moved out, transferred to BuCor, Baguio’ and another as ‘moved out to PMA, Baguio.’ Catapang said Palparan had never been transferred from NBP and blamed post-office personnel, whom he said had been removed and were under investigation. He characterized the annotations as staff oversight and confirmed again that Palparan remained at NBP. The round did not produce the investigation report, reconcile the annotations with Palparan's custody in detail, or identify a final accountability action.

[03:37:16 · asr-003718](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003718) · [03:37:29 · asr-003720](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003720) · [03:37:41 · asr-003723](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003723) · [03:38:28 · asr-003735](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003735)

### Prison drug trade, employee discipline, and Mindoro transfers

De Lima asked why illegal drugs still entered BuCor facilities despite tightened inspections. Catapang acknowledged continued entry through concealed contraband and staff connivance, citing a nurse who was charged and removed after bringing shabu in bread. He reported broader personnel actions of 43 dismissals, 137 suspensions, and 41 reprimands, while saying Civil Service procedures prevented immediate removal. Catapang said Chinese drug lords had been transferred from NBP to the Mindoro Supermax and committed to submit a report showing drug entry had drastically declined. Responding to de Lima's questions about witnesses in her cases, he said they were watched and were in Mindoro. He linked continuing security problems and overcrowding to the need to close NBP and use regional facilities. De Lima said she had additional DOJ-proper questions but ran out of time, so those questions and any answers were not part of this round.

[03:39:43 · asr-003765](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003765) · [03:40:02 · asr-003771](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003771) · [03:40:28 · asr-003783](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003783) · [03:40:30 · asr-003784](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003784) · [03:41:44 · asr-003828](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003828) · [03:41:56 · asr-003835](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003835) · [03:43:01 · asr-003846](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003846) · [03:43:13 · asr-003848](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003848)

## Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez

### DOJ proper and protection-program restoration requests

Rodriguez opened by supporting DOJ and soliciting specific restoration requests. He said OSEC MOOE had fallen from about ₱1.9 billion to ₱1.6 billion and characterized the decrease as ₱203 million. Vida asked that OSEC be restored to its 2026 level and separately identified the Office of Cybercrime, NCC-OSAEC, and IACAT as priorities, estimating about ₱130 million to bring the three back to 2026 levels. He also flagged restoration of NBI ICT projects. Rodriguez said he would work on the requests in committee and bicameral deliberations, but no appropriation was adopted in the round; the source's approximate OSEC figures were not reconciled.

[03:45:21 · asr-003885](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003885) · [03:45:58 · asr-003893](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003893) · [03:46:31 · asr-003902](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003902)

### NBI restoration and hazard pay, plus PAO lawyers and staff

Rodriguez cited an NBI reduction from about ₱3.791 billion to ₱2.9 billion and separately stated the reduction as ₱882 million or 23.2%; because the endpoints were rounded, they do not independently establish that exact difference. Director Melvin Matibag attributed it to earlier utilization and ICT alignment, projected 98% utilization by December with the remaining 2% for maintenance, and supported restoring ₱882 million. He separately asked to raise agents' monthly hazard pay from ₱4,000 to at least ₱15,000. Rodriguez personally said the request was 'approved' and that he would work for it, but this was not an enacted committee action. PAO Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta asked for 559 lawyers, then said PAO could accept about half; the exchange settled on an illustrative package of about 200 lawyers and 400 staff costing roughly ₱700 million, after an initial ₱600 million estimate. Rodriguez said he would try to secure it, but no final staffing package or appropriation was approved.

[03:48:12 · asr-003930](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003930) · [03:48:41 · asr-003939](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003939) · [03:49:38 · asr-003963](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003963) · [03:49:45 · asr-003966](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003966) · [03:50:54 · asr-003985](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003985) · [03:51:03 · asr-003988](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-003988)

### BI post-construction and IT needs; OSG building and digitalization

For BI, Rodriguez cited a ₱1.6 billion reduction and asked for priorities. Viado requested ₱276.28 million for post-construction work on the new BI building and ₱1,200,527,811 for locally funded IT systems and infrastructure at the main and support offices. For OSG, Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe described a ₱4.5 billion lease-to-own building acquisition through GSIS, with about ₱255 million for the first-year installment already in the NEP and an estimated ₱800 million to ₱1 billion return from selling the existing building. She said the omitted priority was ₱123 million for computerization or digital transformation. Rodriguez offered to work on the requests, but the round did not approve BI capital funds or restore OSG digitalization.

[03:52:32 · asr-004030](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004030) · [03:53:07 · asr-004040](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004040) · [03:54:14 · asr-004073](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004073) · [03:54:32 · asr-004090](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004090)

### OADR, OGCC, BuCor, and PPA requests

OADR Executive Director Jose Maria Palaganas asked to reverse a ₱26 million reduction and restore the office to ₱168 million for 2027. OGCC initially deferred to DBM, then mentioned an optimization plan submitted to DBM without stating an amount or specific restoration. BuCor, after Rodriguez noted an increase, asked that its budget not be reduced further and sought more for the FY2027 budget then under consideration without quantifying the request. PPA confirmed a ₱49 million reduction but said its ISSP computerization remained intact; its specific wish-list item was ₱8.198 million for a three-year ladderized probation-officer competency program. Rodriguez repeatedly said he would work on these requests, but none was approved in the round.

[03:56:53 · asr-004127](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004127) · [03:57:48 · asr-004143](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004143) · [03:58:06 · asr-004150](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004150) · [03:58:15 · asr-004152](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004152) · [03:58:43 · asr-004158](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004158) · [04:00:04 · asr-004193](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004193)

### PCGG proposal to expand civil-forfeiture jurisdiction

Asked for PCGG's priority despite a budget increase, the PCGG chairperson said the principal request was institutional rather than budgetary: legislation expanding PCGG's civil-forfeiture mandate from a limited set of individuals to all public officials. The chairperson cited more than ₱300 billion recovered through civil forfeiture over roughly 40 years, while noting that PCGG did not imprison people. Rodriguez said a bill already existed and pledged to become a co-author. The expansion therefore remained a legislative proposal, with no bill number, enactment timetable, implementing details, or budget amount established in the round.

[04:00:55 · asr-004208](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004208) · [04:01:03 · asr-004213](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004213)

## Rep. Edgar R. Erice

### CAIS review, security functions, and government control of passenger data

Erice asked about the Civil Aviation Immigration Security Services (CAIS) project. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the unsolicited public-private partnership proposal was still under contract review, with final screening by the Department of Finance, OSG, and PPP Center, and that no contract had been signed. He described a build-train-maintain-transfer platform combining biometrics, passenger information, risk scoring, criminal and sanctions checks, behavior or deception analytics, and AI-assisted open-source intelligence to support pre-boarding and immigration decisions; these were the commissioner's descriptions of proposed capabilities, not demonstrated results. Viado identified the proponent as Secure Reports Limited and described it as a U.S.-incorporated company. When Erice challenged possible foreign access to sensitive data and servers, Viado said sovereign control would remain with the Philippine government and that the provider would supply tools and training; his answer was qualified by ‘as far as I know’ when he denied provider control, and the exchange did not clearly resolve whether provider personnel would have any initial technical access.

[04:03:54 · asr-004256](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004256) · [04:04:10 · asr-004260](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004260) · [04:09:15 · asr-004319](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004319) · [04:09:20 · asr-004320](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004320)

### Passenger fee, project economics, comparative challenge, and document commitment

Erice argued that a passenger service fee conflicted with government efforts to reduce travel charges and would burden OFWs. Viado said the proposal used a service fee rather than a tax and that travelers—not general taxpayers—would fund it and, if approved, OFW ticket costs including the fee would be borne by their employers under applicable arrangements. He cited a proposed ₱240 charge and comparison figures of 1,800 for Hong Kong, 1,200 for Japan, 2,400 for Singapore, and 2,600 for Australia, but did not state the currencies for those foreign figures. On project economics, Viado corrected Erice's first figure to ₱10.7 billion for the first five years and, with an ‘I think’ qualification, cited an additional ₱52.5 billion over the 20-year period; he also described periodic technology, system, and staff-training upgrades. Erice cited about ₱202 billion in estimated collections and about ₱192 billion for the private corporation. Viado answered ‘probably’ to the collection estimate and confirmed a stated $3.80/$0.20 split per $4—95% to the provider and 5% to government—while saying the government share would go to the National Treasury. Viado said a comparative or Swiss challenge had been noticed but drew no challenger. He committed to provide Erice before plenary with the proposed contract, terms of reference, company proposal, PBAC resolution, and requested PPP, DOJ, and BI materials. The proposal remained unsigned and under review; no approval, collection, or project-performance outcome was established.

[04:10:16 · asr-004345](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004345) · [04:10:31 · asr-004348](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004348) · [04:13:10 · asr-004391](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004391) · [04:13:15 · asr-004392](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004392) · [04:15:46 · asr-004442](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004442) · [04:15:49 · asr-004443](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004443) · [04:16:06 · asr-004451](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004451) · [04:16:13 · asr-004452](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004452)

### Joseph C. allegations, immigration-law amendment, and proposed status roadmap

Erice shifted to the detention of Joseph C. Viado called him a ‘fake Filipino’ and alleged, based on intelligence gathered from government agencies, that he attended Communist Party meetings in China. Erice contrasted that claim with what he said Secretary Año had told him in the prior year's budget hearing. Viado did not identify the source agency publicly and offered to relay the information after the meeting, so the allegation and its evidentiary basis were not resolved on record. Viado then alleged that passports and birth certificates used as proof of Filipino identity were being obtained for payment. Erice separately alleged widespread use of falsified civil documents and improper collections by government or immigration personnel. He estimated about 100,000 ‘fake Filipinos’ and perhaps more than 200,000 illegal aliens, mostly Chinese, and advocated a regularization route for long-term residents without criminal records, including a one-time payment he stated as 10 million without specifying the currency. Justice Secretary Fredderick A. Vida said an Immigration Act amendment was pending and reported that a municipality described in an earlier hearing was acting like a birth-certificate factory, without identifying it clearly or supplying evidence or an outcome. He agreed on clear eligibility criteria and lawful fees, and committed to develop a roadmap, consult Erice for local knowledge, and work with BI within the legal framework; he also said former-commissioner expertise was needed, without clearly promising a specific consultation. No eligibility standard, fee, bill status beyond ‘pending,’ responsible task group, deliverable date, or policy adoption was supplied.

[04:16:53 · asr-004465](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004465) · [04:17:03 · asr-004471](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004471) · [04:18:48 · asr-004502](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004502) · [04:20:27 · asr-004533](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004533) · [04:22:47 · asr-004573](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004573)

## Rep. Amado Carlos A. Bolilia IV

### Large POGO groups, possible splinters, a Barangay Multinational report, and BI border capacity

Bolilia asked whether POGOs remained in the Philippines. BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the large groups had been dismantled and, as far as BI knew, none remained, while smaller splinter groups were still possible; he said BI pursued them when intelligence warranted detention and deportation. Asked about Kim Wong, Viado said he knew Wong from the business community but did not talk with him and might only have encountered him at social functions, not officially. Bolilia then asserted that a POGO still operated in Barangay Multinational and told BI to investigate possible protection. Viado said he was not aware of it but would act on information Bolilia supplied. On BI's reduced budget, Viado said the cut would affect all operations and identified computerization and automation of border-control and main offices, together with the advance passenger information system, as important to a broader intelligence-driven border approach. The round supplied no finding on the alleged Barangay Multinational operation, responsible protector, budget amount, or enforcement timetable.

[04:24:39 · asr-004629](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004629) · [04:24:42 · asr-004630](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004630) · [04:26:05 · asr-004659](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004659) · [04:26:12 · asr-004660](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004660) · [04:26:44 · asr-004664](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004664) · [04:27:14 · asr-004668](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004668)

### BuCor daily allowances, food-bid allegation, congestion, and kubol removal

Bolilia asked whether the ₱100 daily subsistence allowance and ₱20 medicine allowance were sufficient for PDLs, but Catapang did not answer the adequacy question. Bolilia also asked whether Chinese bidders still controlled prison food procurement and alleged that such control had undermined bidding, budgets, or food requirements. Catapang said he knew of no such Chinese involvement and that it no longer existed, but the exchange supplied no procurement evidence or investigation result. Catapang reported that congestion had declined from 350% when he took office to 204%, which Bolilia noted still left PDLs crowded. Catapang also said about 5,500 kubol structures had been dismantled over the previous two years under a decisive DOJ order. No revised allowance, congestion target, procurement reform, or further timetable was committed.

[04:28:40 · asr-004688](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004688) · [04:29:18 · asr-004693](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004693) · [04:29:36 · asr-004695](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004695) · [04:29:52 · asr-004702](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004702) · [04:30:01 · asr-004706](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004706) · [04:30:27 · asr-004719](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004719) · [04:30:33 · asr-004722](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004722)

### PAO's request for 400 district-office staff

Bolilia asked PAO about shortcomings affecting its lawyers. PAO Chief Persida Acosta said staff positions had not been created for a long time, leaving district lawyers to perform staff work themselves, and requested 400 lower-level staff items so offices would remain attended while lawyers were in hearings. Bolilia described cramped and understaffed PAO conditions in his Batangas district, said he was trying to provide an office, supported a funding insertion, and asked that PAO lawyers' welfare receive attention. No funding amount, approved positions, office commitment, or implementation timetable was established in the round.

[04:31:45 · asr-004760](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004760) · [04:32:05 · asr-004769](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004769)

### OSG's 460,000-case docket and removed modernization budget

Bolilia asked whether OSG had an effective digital case-management system. Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe said DBM had supported the building acquisition, but the budget she called IISP for upgrading docket management had been removed. She reported an OSG docket of 460,000 cases and asked that the upgrade be considered if fiscal space could be found. Bolilia said he would look into the issue as a committee and budget-review member, but this exchange stated no restoration amount, approved funding, delivery date, or system-performance target.

[04:34:12 · asr-004833](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004833) · [04:34:25 · asr-004841](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004841)

### SSS district-office hiring query found not to be with DOJ

Bolilia relayed an account from the SSS president that SSS had funds available, needed more district offices, and sought to hire 2,000 to 3,000 personnel, but that the matter had allegedly remained with an unidentified government office. Bolilia expressly said he was unsure whether DOJ or OGCC was the correct office and asked only for clarification, not alleging delay. Vida initially said he was unsure whether the matter was with DOJ and would check; after consulting someone present, he reported that it was not with the department. Bolilia said he would have his own staff locate the proper office. The SSS figures and status were therefore Bolilia's relayed claims, no responsible office or pending application was identified, and no DOJ action remained committed. Bolilia then closed with commendations for NBI and the DOJ family.

[04:35:31 · asr-004874](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004874) · [04:36:51 · asr-004916](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004916) · [04:37:13 · asr-004927](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-004927)

## Closing direction

### Briefing suspended

After thanking Allan Ty, Rep. Keith Micah "Atty. Mike" D.L. Tan said, ‘[unclear] ba natin muna, ah, suspend the hearing briefing po muna,’ directing a temporary suspension. The unresolved first word is preserved rather than guessed. The record contains no resumption time, further instruction, vote, or final adjournment after this direction.

[05:31:39 · asr-006267](https://tordecilla.github.io/budget-hearings-2026/records/6/#asr-006267)