Lacson: ‘Almost all’ senators inserted P100 billion in 2025 GAA

MANILA, Philippines, September 29 ------ The Senate Blue Ribbon committee may release its partial findings on the flood control scandal, which could include details on “almost all” senators of the 19th Congress who inserted a total of at least P100 billion worth of projects into the 2025 national budget, panel chair Sen. Panfilo Lacson said.

Lacson, who is also the Senate president pro tempore, said the committee would not be holding hearings this week to focus on consolidating documents and testimonies that may form the basis of an initial report. He said the committee is also reviewing the pace and approach of the committee probes as the Senate prepares to deliberate on the proposed 2026 national budget. “Senate President (Vicente Sotto III) and I agreed that we must reassess first because there’s already a ton of info, and at the same time, we need to fulfill our duties in scrutinizing the 2026 budget because it’s already in the Senate. Maybe we will move the next (Blue Ribbon) hearing,” Lacson told radio dzMM.

He said hearings may be called if new information comes to light. While Lacson has not yet provided details on which information would be prioritized in the partial committee report, he said the panel was also reviewing the 2025 General Appropriations Act – considered by lawmakers and government officials as “the most corrupt budget.”

He disclosed on Saturday that almost all senators of the 19th Congress made insertions into the 2025 budget but only revealed yesterday that the total insertions were worth at least P100 billion. “It’s enormous. I have never seen such because back in the day, PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) was not yet declared unconstitutional, and it was just in the hundreds of millions. Now, I have seen the total, and it is at least P100 billion,” he said.

While not necessarily illegal, Lacson said insertions become questionable when they amount to P5 billion or P9 billion each, warning that such diversions threaten the economy by displacing infrastructure projects that were planned and vetted at the barangay, city and regional levels. He renewed his call for lawmakers to practice self-restraint in inserting projects not only in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) but also in agencies like the Department of Education and Department of Transportation.

Lacson likewise dissuaded colleagues from using the so-called leadership fund in the DPWH, which allows legislators to insert projects as early as the National Expenditure Program.

Source: philstar.com