The Senate Committee on Finance is preparing to reassign the agency oversight responsibilities of Senator Loren Legarda to other panel vice chairs should her medical leave persist through the upcoming 2027 national budget hearings, according to Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito.
Legarda, who currently supervises budget reviews for government entities focused on culture, history, and the environment, is on her fourth extended medical absence. Her ongoing leave has led to her absence from regular Senate sessions as well as the impeachment trial proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte.
During a media briefing, Ejercito confirmed that Legarda had been previously informed of the specific executive departments and agencies placed under her purview for the upcoming fiscal review.
“About culture, history, environment, it’s assigned to her,” Ejercito noted.
However, Ejercito clarified that the committee cannot leave the budget evaluation of these public offices unhandled if Legarda remains unable to perform her legislative duties.
“No choice talaga. Most likely, kung hindi man ako ang madalas hahawak, I will ask the other vice chairs to take in some of the agencies,” he explained.
The upper chamber is slated to begin committee-level scrutiny of the executive branch’s proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027, requiring extensive examination of funding allocations across all government sectors.
Meanwhile, Legarda and her son, Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, are currently facing a preliminary investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman regarding allegations of plunder, graft, and conflict of interest involving solar power projects valued at approximately ₱10 billion.