Recognizing the crucial role of the Department of Justice (DOJ) as the principal law agency of the government, the House of Representatives has considered the P37.758-billion budget for the DOJ and its attached agencies for fiscal year 2025 under House Bill No. 10800 or the FY 2025 General Appropriations Bill.

This budget represents an increase of 4.22% or P1.529-billion higher than the P36.229-billion budget of the DOJ appropriated for FY 2024.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla and other officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ) personally attended the House Bill’s deliberation.

The main sponsor of the DOJ’s budget for FY 2025 is AKO BICOL Partylist Rep. Raul Angelo "Jil" D. Bongalon while co-sponsoring the same is General Santos City Rep. Loreto B. Acharon.

As the main sponsor of the DOJ’s budget for FY 2025, Rep. Bongalon defended the DOJ during the interpellation portion of the hearing of the FY 2025 General Appropriations Bill.

Major issues tackled during the interpellation of the DOJ’s budget were the DOJ-BI Joint Memorandum Circular which outlines the Rules on Reimbursing the Expenses of Offloaded Passengers, cashless transactions and strip searches at the national penitentiary, status of Quiboloy’s case, terrorism and EJK cases etc.

Rep. Bongalon has answered with ease each of the questions lodged by lawmakers during the interpellation as the DOJ and its attached agencies were recognized yet again for their significant efforts to ensure an efficient and effective administration of justice.

“I am supporting the budget of the DOJ in consideration of our former colleague, now the Secretary who has done an outstanding job for the Department,” Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) Rep. Sergio C. Dagooc underscored.

“The power of the purse plays an indispensable role in effectively upholding the rule of law to ensure that justice will be dispensed at all times without any restraint or undue influence, the DOJ vows that this fund, up to the last centavo, will benefit the Filipino people,” the Secretary stressed.