MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has returned P500 million from its proposed P1.3-billion intelligence fund for 2025 after discovering that the amount was a “budget insertion” made by former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla revealed during the Senate budget hearing that the PNP promptly turned over the questionable allocation to the Office of the President to maintain integrity and transparency in its operations.
“The P500 million, that was an insertion which we turned over to the Office of the President. We returned it because it was an insertion in the budget — and the insertion came from the person who requested 3,000 containers of fish,” Remulla said.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief stressed that the decision was meant to “distance the PNP from any questionable budget maneuverings” and preserve the credibility of the agency’s intelligence programs.
Remulla was alluding to the same ex-lawmaker earlier identified by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. as having sought import allocations for 3,000 containers of frozen fish to be distributed among three companies.
At the hearing, Remulla also presented the DILG’s proposed 2026 budget, emphasizing programs to strengthen local governance, peace and order, and institutional accountability.
Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, who presided over the deliberation, lauded the department’s direction and urged it to support his proposed Master Plan for Infrastructure and National Development Act, a measure that would establish a unified framework for both national and local infrastructure planning.
“The DILG is key to strengthening our local government units and communities,” Ejercito said./PN
