Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Friday dismissed claims that senators concealed discretionary “pork barrel” in the proposed 2026 national budget through funds for government workers and indigent patients.
Sotto clarified that such funds would only be considered “pork barrel” if lawmakers could personally benefit through schemes like kickbacks.
“Paano mo makakakuha ng kickback sa mga mutual benefits ng uniformed personnel?” he said, noting that the Supreme Court ruled in 2013 that funds allowing lawmakers to direct spending after the budget’s approval are unconstitutional.
He added that the budget provisions were uploaded online for transparency.
“Kaya para magsalita ka ng gano’n, aba’y hindi ka nakakaintindi or hindi ka nagbabasa,” Sotto said.
Defending the Medical Assistance to Indigents and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP), Sotto cited overcrowded public hospitals and emphasized the need for open and accountable budgeting.
“Imbes na pintasan nila agad itong pinakamalinis at pinaka-open, transparent at accountable — maaaring hindi perfect — na budget, pero tignan nila yung mga provision,” he said.
Critics, including ACT Teachers Partylist Representative Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Partylist Representative Renee Co, called for abolishing unprogrammed appropriations and argued that essential services like healthcare and social welfare should be properly funded without political intervention.