Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson suspects that officials within the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) may be complicit in a syndicate linked to questionable flood control projects.
Lacson emphasized that DBM plays a central role in releasing funds to government agencies, especially unprogrammed appropriations, which require DBM’s recommendation to the President before disbursement.
“May kasabwat sa DBM. Ito ang naglalabas ng pondo. Hindi basta basta nare-release ang unprogrammed funds,” Lacson said in a DZBB interview.
He clarified that while only the President can authorize such releases under the law, the President relies heavily on DBM’s recommendations.
“Kung susundin talaga ang batas, Presidente lang ang puwede. Pero siyempre ang Presidente, umaasa yan sa DBM pag nirekomenda ito, i-release natin yung unprogrammed appropriations. DBM talaga ang ahensya na nangangasiwa dyan. Ang pag-release ng budget, disbursement DBM eh,” he added.
Lacson’s remarks follow revelations from the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee confirming whistleblower Brice Hernandez’s claims of budget insertions by Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada in the national budget.
According to Lacson, Estrada’s ₱355 million insertion was traced to four flood control projects in Bulacan under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA). Villanueva’s ₱600 million insertion, meanwhile, was embedded in the 2023 unprogrammed funds and spread across eight projects.
Lacson stressed that Hernandez must now prove whether the two senators received kickbacks from these projects.
“Kaya lang yung isyu na nagbigay ba talaga siya ng commission doon sa dalawang senador eh yun ang ipo-prove niya ngayon,” Lacson said.
Lacson plans to request Senate President Tito Sotto to allow Hernandez to return home and gather evidence, with Senate escorts ensuring his safety.
The DBM has previously been embroiled in major corruption scandals, including the infamous pork barrel scam involving former Undersecretary Mario Relampagos and staff Rosario Nuñez, Lalaine Paule, and Marilou Bare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pharmally controversy led to charges against former PS-DBM Executive Director Lloyd Christopher Lao, Warren Rex Liong, and several procurement staff. (ZIA LUNA)
