Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) – The Department of Justice (DOJ) presented its proposed budget to the House of Representatives on Thursday (August 13).
For 2016, the Justice department has a budget of P12.8 billion – a far cry from the P25.5 B budget they originally proposed before the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Some lawmakers think the DOJ deserves a bigger budget allocation.
Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said the Cyber Crime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) needs upgrading. NBI Director Virgilo Mendez also asked for additional funds for the repair of the bureau’s 40-year old buildings.
“We are worried about electricals, the plumbing—all these things are headaches to us,” Mendez said.
Immigration Commissioner Siegfred Mison meanwhile asked that funds collected from express lanes be remitted to the agency’s trust fund instead of giving it to the national treasury.
Mison said the funds will be used to pay for the employees’ overtime work.
He also pointed out that they are undermanned and considering the ratio of immigration officers to foreign nationals, Mison said their employees need a financial boost.
“Here in our country, there is 1 immigration officer to 1,300 foreign nationals,” Mison said.
A 20-peso increase in meal allowances for inmates was also suggested, while Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez moved for the addition of P100 million for repairs of penitentiary buildings, which De Lima welcomed.
“When some member’s committee manifested their intention to provide additional budget we gladly appreciate it,” De Lima said.
De Lima said portion of the 12 billion budget will be used for some projects such as the construction of a new Justice Center in Pasay, which will house the DOJ central office, Bureau of Immigration and NBI offices. P52 million is allocated for this project.
Two hundred million pesos will be allocated for the transfer of the New Bilibid Prison to Fort Magsaysay, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.
In addition, P70 million will be used to improve the department’s information & communications technology system.
The other 9 attached agencies under the DOJ all received allocations higher than their 2015 budget.
Funding needed to reduce court backlogs
De Lima also said that the DOJ had resolved more cases from 2010 to 2014, and that added funding would further reduce backlogs in courts.
During their budget presentation in the House plenary, a lawmaker questioned why only 9 officials were tagged in the 3rd batch of PDAF cases, including CDO Rep. Rufus Rodriguez.
De Lima said the fourth batch of PDAF cases will be filed. “Pwede, possible mag file another batch this time hindi na Napoles NGO,” De Lima said.
De Lima added, the next batch will include other Non-Government Organizations (NGO) but still involves PDAF cases based from 2007-2009 Commission on Audit report.
With regards to the Mamasapano encounter, De Lima mentioned that cases will be filed against 90 alleged perpetrators of the Mamasapano killings within a month after second part of the probe is done.
Proposed amendments to the DOJ’s budget will be discussed in the plenary by September.
