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The Palace announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has started a weeklong, thorough review of the ratified 2026 General Appropriations Bill after receiving it on December 29. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the President’s team is scrutinizing all allocations and provisions against the original National Expenditure Program to verify changes and ensure legal, technical, and fiscal integrity. While the 2026 budget undergoes review, the government will operate under a reenacted budget for the first days of 2026, which Recto said will not disrupt services or operations.

The Philippine Congress ratified the P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget after the Senate and House of Representatives approved a harmonized General Appropriations Bill in bicameral conference, sending the measure to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for review and signature into law. The ratified spending plan, which maintains a total outlay of P6.793 trillion, now awaits presidential action before it can take effect as the country’s national budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has obtained new “very substantial” dashcam footage in the probe into the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Investigators have added the video to the official evidence file and will subject it to forensic and technical analysis to verify authenticity, identify people and vehicles, and establish a detailed timeline of events.

Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco on Saturday demanded “non-negotiable” full disclosure of all district and party-list allocations under the proposed 2026 General Appropriations Act before the House of Representatives votes on December 29, 2025. He called on the House to post detailed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allocations, including specific programs and projects, on the official Congress website. Tiangco cited past transparency issues in party-list funding and said the completion of bicameral deliberations removed any reason to withhold information, stressing that public disclosure is essential for accountability and informed decision-making on the national budget.

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday warned Malacañang against quickly dismissing as hearsay allegations that Cabinet officials inserted projects into the proposed national budget, as the Senate continues its deliberations on the government spending bill. Lacson said he received information from credible sources, shared the details with fellow senators, and sought further verification before naming officials allegedly involved. He vowed to present his findings in plenary debates, push for the removal of unjustified items, and coordinate with the Department of Budget and Management and the Commission on Audit.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Dec. 23, told attendees at a Malacañang holiday gathering in Manila that if relatives call them fat during Christmas reunions, they should reply “ikaw din.”

The DOJ said its officials received the funds from Santos in coordination with concerned government agencies that oversee infrastructure and public works projects.

Philippine Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. on Monday rejected reports branding Mindanao a “terror hotspot” in connection with the Bondi, Australia tragedy, saying intelligence did not support claims of terrorist training in the region. Citing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Galvez said the Philippines had dismantled terrorist networks and advanced the Bangsamoro peace process, which he credited for transforming Mindanao. He urged international media to avoid unverified reporting that could stigmatize communities and undermine peace gains.

Philippine authorities are preparing to continue the investigation into alleged insertions and kickbacks in flood control projects despite the death of former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon said investigators could summon Cabral’s former staff, scrutinize DPWH records, and coordinate with oversight and law enforcement agencies. A newly formed legal team will study civil, administrative, and asset recovery actions against involved individuals and entities.