MANILA — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Friday warned Malacañang not to dismiss allegations that Cabinet officials inserted items into the proposed national budget as the Senate conducts deliberations on the government’s spending plan.
He said he received information from credible sources claiming that certain Cabinet members pushed for specific projects in the budget bill.
Lacson said he relayed the information to the Senate finance committee and other senators for review. He added that he could not yet disclose the names of the officials involved while verifying details of the alleged insertions. He welcomed any investigation to establish the facts and said he raised the issue to prevent potential cover-ups and ensure transparency in the budget process.
He said the Senate would review all reported insertions and delete or realign questionable items if necessary. He cited documents and field reports gathered during budget hearings and said he coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management for detailed breakdowns of allocations and new projects.
Lacson urged his colleagues to examine the budget by agency, region, and program and reminded executive officials that the Constitution requires Congress to guard public funds. He said he would present his findings during plenary debates and expected the Senate to complete deliberations within the legislative timetable to avoid delays in government operations.
He added that he would continue monitoring information on possible unauthorized changes, submit related documents to Senate committees, and call on the public to report suspicious projects.