MANILA, Philippines — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson assured the public on Thursday, October 15, that the remaining funds allocated for the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte are sufficient to see the proceedings through to completion.
Lacson, who leads the Senate Committee on Accounts, referenced data provided by Senate President Win Gatchalian indicating that out of the ₱25.7-million continuing appropriation under the 2025 General Appropriations Act, only a little over ₱14 million has been utilized thus far. This leaves roughly ₱11 million available.
“It’s more than enough because we have only one article left to tackle, with the defense making its presentation. So it is more than enough and we expect there may even be savings,” Lacson said in a radio interview.
The senator also addressed earlier assertions made by Atty. Paolo Panelo, the Vice President’s spokesperson, who claimed that around ₱500 million had been “wasted” on the trial.
Lacson disputed this figure, suggesting Panelo may have made an honest mistake by confusing the trial-specific expenses with the Senate’s general daily operational costs of approximately ₱25 million.
He urged the spokesperson to rectify the misleading estimate.
Furthermore, Lacson slammed as “unfair” the Vice President’s recent insinuation that the upcoming national budget could act as a “bargaining chip” or political leverage to pressure senator-judges into voting for her conviction.
Duterte had posted on social media questioning whether the 2027 budget would serve the public or become a tool for coercion.
“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 stated.
“That said, in all my years as a senator, I have never succumbed to the allure of pork barrel, in whatever shape and form. On the contrary, I have consistently opposed and fought against it,” the known anti-pork crusader added.
Recalling his past integrity-driven decisions—such as turning down ₱50 million worth of projects offered after the Corona impeachment trial—Lacson emphasized his long-standing track record against political kickbacks and conditional voting incentives.