The Office of the Ombudsman has asked a Senate committee to reduce its confidential and intelligence fund (CIF) for fiscal years (FY) 2024 - 2025 to ₱1 million.
The request was enclosed in a letter dated Oct. 6 and addressed to Senator and Senate Committee on Finance chairman Juan Edgardo 'Sonny' Angara.
"Consistent with my earlier pronouncement before your Committee, I would like to officially request that notwithstanding its investigative functions, the Office of the Ombudsman be appropriated the amount of One Million Pesos (P1,000) for its confidential and intelligence fund (CIF) in FYs 2024 and 2025 or until the end of my term of office as Ombudsman," Ombudsman Samuel Martines said.
He then thanked Angara for "the opportunity to present" his office's 2024 budget last Sept. 27.
"Rest assured that you shall have our continuing cooperation as the Senate of the Philippines deliberate in plenary our agency budget," Marites remarked.
The Office of the Ombudsman originally proposed a ₱51 million in CIF for FY 2024 - 2025.
Last September, Martires asked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to reduce or remove his agency's CIF.
