Malacañang clarified on Thursday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not involved in nor aware of an alleged ₱24-billion “leadership fund” designated for lawmakers, which was disclosed during testimony by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro affirmed that the Chief Executive would never have tolerated such an arrangement had it come to his attention.
“Kung alam ng Pangulo, hindi mangyayari ‘yan. Parang teacher. Kapagkayo’y nangopya, ipapalaam niyo ba sa teacher niyo? ‘Pag nahuli kayo ng teacher, anong gagawin ng teacher? Hindi ba bibigyan kayo ng penalty?”
“So ‘yun nalang – kung alam ng Pangulo ‘yan, hindi niya ‘yan ito-tolerate at hindi ‘yan mangyayari,” Castro added.
Castro emphasized that current Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has no knowledge regarding the alleged fund, confirming that no such provision exists within the proposed 2027 national budget.
“Kung sa kanila po ito naganap at ito ay kanilang usapan, walang malalaman ang sinuman kung ito ay sariling usapan lang ni Secretary Bonoan at kung sinuman ang official,” she explained.
The controversy stems from statements made by Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan, where he claimed that the DPWH set aside specific allocations for members of the Senate.
Under the reported setup, individual senators were allegedly set to receive ₱500 million, while those holding committee chairmanships were allotted ₱1 billion each.
Multiple members of the Senate have since refuted knowledge of any such monetary setup. Castro indicated that the Executive branch will not initiate an independent inquiry, as the matter is already being reviewed in active legal proceedings before the anti-graft court.