Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 15) — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday said it will appeal to lawmakers to increase its confidential funds for 2024 that were slashed to ₱168 million, as the allocation helps fund its program for victims of incestuous rape.
“Magaappeal kami sa bicam tungkol dito kasi ang hindi namin napapaliwanag at hindi tinatanong… nagkasundo kami ng Supreme Court na wag nang hayaang maareglo yung mga kaso ng incestuous rape,” DOJ Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
[Translation: We will appeal in the bicam regarding this because we were not able to explain and it was not asked, that we agreed with the Supreme Court that cases of incestuous rape will not be settled.]
Based on the latest version of the spending bill in the Senate, the over ₱250 million proposed secret funds of the office of the justice secretary for 2024 were cut to ₱168 million. The amount is about a third of the ₱ 526 million confidential funds earmarked for the same office this year.
Senate Minority leader Koko Pimentel still questioned the slashed amount during the upper chamber’s debates, saying there is a line item to fund the witness protection program (WPP) that is easier to audit.
“Ang point ko nagagamit din naman pala yung MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses) ng WPP for the expenses earlier mentioned by our sponsor, financial assistance, livelihood, burial benefits,” he said.
[Translation: My point is the MOOE of the WPP can be used for the expenses earlier mentioned by our sponsor, financial assistance, livelihood, burial benefits.]
In response, Sen. Sonny Angara, chairman of the Senate finance committee, said: \”They might be exposing the details of the contract, etc., your honor… Addresses, vehicles, etc. They prefer to conduct this to preserve the confidentiality.\”
According to Remulla, there could be up to a million victims of incestuous rape in the country.
He said the DOJ allocates a big budget for the victims since they cannot just be returned to their families due to the risk of the crime being committed again. Among the assistance being provided by the government to them are housing and psychiatric counseling, he noted.
