By Wilnard Bacelonia
MANILA – Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s suggestion that the proposed 2027 national budget could be used to influence impeachment votes, saying the allegation unfairly casts suspicion on lawmakers who have consistently opposed pork barrel allocations.
Lacson, who sits as a senator-judge in Duterte’s impeachment trial, said the Vice President’s remarks failed to distinguish lawmakers who have resisted political interference in government spending from those who may have abused the budget process.
“A sweeping statement from no less than the country’s second-highest official is unfair to those of us who have consistently upheld the integrity of the national budget and served as its vanguards,” Lacson said in a statement.
He maintained that his position against pork barrel allocations has remained unchanged throughout his years in the Senate.
“In all my years as a senator, I have never succumbed to the allure of pork barrel, in whatever shape and form,” he said.
Duterte on Wednesday questioned alleged cash distribution and political maneuvering surrounding the proposed 2027 national budget, raising concerns that government funds could be used to pressure senator-judges or reward House members who supported her impeachment.
“Is the budget being used to serve the Filipino people, or has it become a bargaining chip to pressure senators who will sit as judges and reward those who vote ‘yes’ in the House of Representatives?” Duterte said in a social media statement.
Her remarks came a day after the Senate impeachment court allowed the House prosecution to withdraw three of the four impeachment articles against her, leaving allegations of unexplained wealth and undisclosed business interests as the remaining charge.
P50-M offer recalled
Lacson cited his experience during the 2012 impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona to underscore his position against political incentives linked to congressional proceedings.
He recalled declining an offer of PHP50 million worth of projects during a senators’ caucus held after Corona’s conviction.
The allocation became controversial in 2013 when then Sen. Jinggoy Estrada disclosed additional funding releases to senators following the impeachment trial, raising questions about whether the amounts were connected to their votes.
Lacson, who voted to convict Corona, maintained that he refused the additional allocation.
The senator has also consistently questioned discretionary allocations and mechanisms allowing lawmakers to influence the distribution of public funds outside established budget priorities.
Meanwhile, the controversy over possible political influence in the 2027 budget comes amid increased scrutiny of infrastructure allocations.
An investigation published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism earlier this month found substantial disparities in proposed public works funding among congressional districts, including reductions affecting many lawmakers who opposed Duterte’s impeachment.
The findings raised questions about political considerations in distributing infrastructure funds, although they did not establish that senator-judges had been offered budgetary incentives in exchange for their votes.
The Senate has begun reviewing the House-approved spending measure, with finance subcommittees directed to submit their reports by Oct. 23.
Lacson maintained that his record of opposing pork barrel allocations should not be disregarded because of allegations surrounding the impeachment proceedings. (PNA)
