Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) urged Panfilo Lacson to forthwith release records on this year’s national budget insertions, saying the lawmaker should stop “strip teasing.”
BAYAN said it there were indeed senators who funneled questionable projects and pork barrel–style allocations into the budget, Lacson should immediately tell all as the people have the right to know.
“We demand full transparency from…Lacson and the Philippine Senate regarding at least P100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 national budget,” the group said.
It added how much were the insertions and to which agencies must immediately be divulged, as well as the status of projects and whether the funds have been released.
In an interview with radio station DZBB on Monday morning, Lacson said he is in possession of a list of insertions that is being kept in a locker in his office.
He said the insertions made mostly to the Department of Public Works and Highways may be as much as P103 billion and amount to about three to four billion each senator or representative.
He however refused to name names.
When asked why he zeroes in on DPWH, he replied that he did not mean to but that the agency happens to be where most of budget “amendments” went to.
“Nandoon kasi ang suki,” he said.
Budget insertions are amounts not included in the original National Expenditure Program submitted by the executive branch of government to Congress for approval.
Legislators eventually make amendments, mostly under so-called unprogrammed funds, that are now at the center of investigations into anomalous public works projects.
Lacson heads the investigation at the Senate as chairperson of its Blue Ribbon Committee.
BAYAN said Lacson should not treat the matter as a circus act or a strip tease, dropping hints one day and pulling back the next.
“Our people, already burdened, anxious and angry by the flood control corruption scandals, deserve clarity, not theatrics,” BAYAN said.
The progressive group added the delay is a betrayal of public trust and a cover-up of wrongdoing.
“We remind all senators: the budget is the lifeblood of the nation. It is not a playground for patronage politics or a feeding trough for corrupt officials and favored contractors,”
“The people are watching. Senator Lacson and the entire Senate must come clean. No excuses, no half-measures, no political games. Tell all,” BAYAN said. # (Raymund B. Villanueva)
