FALSE. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro allegedly said that receipts are not required for the confidential funds of President Bongbong Marcos.
FACT. Castro never said that confidential funds no longer require receipts simply because they are “confidential.”
The absence of evidence, such as official Palace briefings and records, strongly suggests that the quote attributed to Castro is fabricated.
While it is true that President Bongbong Marcos approved the allocation of confidential and intelligence funds, the figures cited online were inaccurate. Contrary to claims of a P1 billion allocation, the approved amount totals P4.5 billion for 2026 national budget.
The Palace addressed the matter publicly in August 2025, explaining that the confidential funds remain subject to supervision and existing government rules, where officials clarified that these allocations are intended for sensitive operations related to national security and public safety, not for unchecked or undocumented spending.
Agencies having confidential and intelligence funds (CIFs) must designate accountable officers and submit regular reports to the Commission on Audit.
