SC never had any intel budget, relies on NBI for its intel needs

This refers to the news report titled “P-Noy getting bigger intel fund in 2012” (Inquirer, 8/10/11), by Christian V. Esguerra.

The article states that “Malacañang got a P200-million boost in the President’s intelligence fund while the judiciary and several government agencies lost their intel funds in the proposed P1.8-trillion national budget for next year….” The article then proceeds, “The judiciary, a coequal branch of government composed of the courts and attached agencies, also lost its intel funds.”

The judiciary does not have and never had any intel funds in its budget to “lose.” For our “intelligence needs,” such as background investigation of court personnel and applicants to the bench, we rely on the National Bureau of Investigation.

—JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ,

court administrator, chief, Public Information Office,

Supreme Court of the Philippines,

Padre Faura Street,

Ermita, Manila