SENATE President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has ignited a firestorm of controversy by revealing that “almost all” senators in the 19th Congress have allegedly inserted at least P100 billion worth of items into the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Lacson, citing gathered documents, claims these were individual insertions earmarked for later release. This revelation has raised serious questions about transparency and accountability in the Senate’s budget allocation process.
Lacson expressed shock at the scale of these insertions, noting that the amounts far exceed those seen even before the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) was declared unconstitutional in 2013.
He highlighted the potential for abuse, particularly with individual insertions reaching as high as P5 billion or even P9 billion. While Lacson acknowledged that insertions or amendments themselves are not inherently illegal, he questioned the ethics and implications of such large sums being allocated in this manner.
The senator’s statements have prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the matter. Critics argue that these alleged insertions could lead to pork-barrel spending and potential misuse of public funds.
The controversy underscores the ongoing debate over the role of individual legislators in shaping the national budget and the need for greater scrutiny of the allocation process to ensure that funds are used efficiently and effectively for the benefit of the Filipino people.
