The Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested a House committee to restore its proposed 2027 allocations for specialized anti-trafficking, cybercrime, and child protection units to their 2026 funding levels, raising alarms over deep cuts to these key programs.
Justice Undersecretary Michelle Ann Lapuz highlighted during budget hearings that technology-driven offenses—including sextortion, online financial fraud, digital child sexual abuse or exploitation, fraudulent online recruitment, and violent extremist activities—are rising rapidly.
Lapuz expressed concern that the severity of these online threats may be misunderstood.
“We feel that there is a misapprehension of the scope of the problem because if, for example, the committee deliberating on our project would appreciate the gravity and urgency by which we need to respond to these crimes, then they would at the very least restore our budget to the 2026 levels,” she stated.
The DOJ has proposed a ₱46.435-billion spending plan for 2027, representing under one percent of the country’s national budget proposal.
Lapuz detailed several significant budget reductions, including the secretariat funding for the National Coordination Center Against OSAEC and CSAEM, which dropped from ₱100 million in 2026 to ₱36.5 million. The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Secretariat saw its allocation trimmed from ₱119 million down to ₱70 million, while the Office of Cybercrime experienced a sharp reduction from ₱102.2 million to ₱12.273 million.
Warning that these fiscal cutbacks could set back enforcement efforts by “two to three steps,” Lapuz emphasized the need to maintain momentum following the launch of the national strategic action plan against child abuse and exploitation.
She warned that diminished resources could jeopardize the Philippines’ Tier 1 ranking in the U.S. Trafficking in Persons report, a status the country has held for ten consecutive years.
“Hindi lang po kung ano ‘yung ginawa natin last year, gagawin din natin ngayon. What is important is we improve the response. At the very least, restoration of our budget will ensure sufficient support for that goal,” Lapuz stressed.
Supporting the DOJ’s appeal, Bukidnon Representative Jonathan Keith Flores also urged lawmakers to reinstate the law enforcement funds.
“I would like to reiterate my request, and echo Secretary (Fredderick) Vida’s appeal, that at the very least, the budget for anti-trafficking in persons, cybercrime enforcement and OSAEC be restored to 2026 levels,” Flores remarked.