Senate President Win Gatchalian on Saturday refuted claims made by former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan regarding a purported “leadership fund” for senators, stating he has never encountered such an allocation during his decade-long tenure in the upper chamber.
Bonoan had alleged that a ₱24-billion fund was set aside as a leadership fund for members of the Senate, with individual allocations ranging between ₱500 million and ₱1 billion per legislator.
”Ako 10 years na ako sa Senado at never ko pa narinig itong leadership fund at never rin ito inoffer sa akin whether sa DPWH or anyone from the Senate,” Gatchalian said in a radio interview.
Gatchalian clarified that he only first encountered the term through statements from the late Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, which were previously cited in a privilege speech delivered by Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson last year.
The Senate leader added that he never discussed any similar financial arrangements with former Senate Presidents Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Francis “Chiz” Escudero, both of whom were linked by Bonoan to alleged allocations under the 2024 and 2025 national budgets.
Gatchalian, who formerly chaired the Senate Committee on Finance during the previous budget season, insisted that no such mechanism existed under his watch.
He explained that all budget amendments proposed by lawmakers are formally submitted through the finance committee or introduced on the Senate floor before being posted publicly on the official website.
While senators may endorse project proposals originating from local government units and state agencies, Gatchalian emphasized that these remain subject to strict committee evaluation and the government’s fiscal capacity.
Submissions require complete documentation, including local council resolutions, programs of work, feasibility studies, and Regional Development Council endorsements.
Warning against discretionary funding schemes, Gatchalian noted that pre-arranged allocations risk fostering patronage politics and favored contractor deals.
”Those amendments ay para sa LGU, para sa mga ahensya, hindi para sa sarili mo,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian noted he could not determine Bonoan’s true motives for raising the allegations—which stem from a supposed conversation with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.—suggesting it remains unclear whether such a fund existed, if knowledge was restricted, or if the claims form part of Bonoan’s legal defense strategy.