Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has withdrawn as a member of the bicameral conference committee for the proposed 2026 national budget, Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri announced after the Senate approved a resolution adjusting Congress’ legislative calendar to pass the budget before year-end.
Estrada, originally designated as a bicam member due to his role as chair of the Senate Finance Committee, submitted a letter requesting withdrawal. Zubiri read the letter during Tuesday’s plenary session, saying Estrada “asked to be withdrawn as a member of the bicam.”
Zubiri clarified that the designation of bicam members automatically includes committee chairs and vice chairs.
“It was not a choice by anyone of us, it’s not because of special privilege. All the members that were listed there were sub-committee chairmen or vice chairmen,” he explained.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III then moved to approve Estrada’s request, officially removing him from the committee.
Estrada was previously implicated in alleged kickback schemes involving “ghost” flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Other bicam members, such as Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, have also been absent, with dela Rosa missing since November 10 due to reports of an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant.
During the plenary deliberations, dela Rosa was unable to personally defend the budgets of agencies under his chairmanship, including the Department of National Defense (DND), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).