Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed that “almost all” senators of the 19th Congress had budget insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“In the Senate alone, at least ₱100 billion. I was surprised—these were individual insertions, and now they are under FLR,” Lacson disclosed in a statement on Sunday, September 28.
The veteran lawmaker, known for scrutinizing the annual national budget, said the scale was unprecedented.
“Pagkala-laki. Never pa ako nakakita kasi noong araw di pa declared unconstitutional ang PDAF nandoon lang sa hundreds of millions. E ngayon nakita ko ang total, kabuuan at least ₱100 billion,” Lacson said.
He added that he also plans to review the insertions made by lawmakers in the House of Representatives, though he admitted this may take longer given the lower chamber’s larger membership compared to the Senate.
According to some sources, only then-Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel and Senator Risa Hontiveros did not make any budget insertions in the 2025 national budget.
As of now, former Senate President Chiz Escudero—who held the position during the 19th Congress—and former Senator Grace Poe, then Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, have not issued any comments on Lacson’s revelation.