Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) has called out Senator Panfilo Lacson and the Philippine Senate for what it described as evasive and theatrical handling of alleged P100 billion worth of insertions in the proposed 2025 national budget.
In a statement released Monday, BAYAN demanded full transparency from Lacson, who earlier hinted at questionable allocations embedded in the budget but has yet to disclose specific details.
“Senator Lacson should not treat this matter as a circus act or a striptease, dropping hints one day and pulling back the next,” said BAYAN Chairperson Teddy Casino.
“Our people, already burdened, anxious and angry by the flood control corruption scandals, deserve clarity, not theatrics.”
The group urged the Senate to release official records identifying which lawmakers proposed the insertions, the amounts involved, the agencies concerned, and the current status of the projects.
“If indeed there were senators who funneled pork barrel–style allocations into the budget, the people have the right to know exactly who they are,” Casino added.
“Anything less is a betrayal of public trust and a cover-up of wrongdoing. Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot.”
BAYAN emphasized that the national budget should not be used as a tool for political patronage or a “feeding trough” for favored contractors.
“The budget is the lifeblood of the nation,” Casino stated. “Every peso wasted on corruption is a peso stolen from education, health, housing, infrastructure, and disaster preparedness.”
The group’s statement comes amid growing public frustration over recent revelations of corruption in flood control projects, which have sparked calls for greater scrutiny of government spending.
“The people are watching,” Casino warned. “Senator Lacson and the entire Senate must come clean. No excuses, no half-measures, no political games. Tell all.”
As of press time, Senator Lacson has not issued a formal response to BAYAN’s challenge. (ZIA LUNA)
