Senate Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed that at least five cabinet secretaries and several undersecretaries reportedly have allocables and non-allocables in the 2025 national budget, allegedly amounting to billions of pesos.
According to Lacson, based on documents from the camp of former Public Works Undersecretary Catalina Cabral and the DPWH itself, former DPWH Secretary Manny Bonoan and one official identified as “ES” were included among those with allocables.
“At least five. Tapos may undersecretaries. Nagulat din ako, isang nakalagay doon, ‘ES, P8 billion.’ Paano magkaroon ng allocable ang ‘ES’?” Lacson said.
He added, “Kay Sec. Bonoan, nakita ko ang kanyang allocables isang ₱5 billion, tapos may Batches 1-3 na nakakahalaga ng ₱25.5B – ₱10B, ₱8B, at ₱7.5B. Umaabot na siya ng ₱30.5 billion. Anong karapatan niya magkaroon ng allocables? Tapos meron ding Cabinet secretaries na meron ding tig-₱2 billion. Bakit?”
Lacson also noted that billions in allocables reportedly went to House leadership and several partylist groups.
Another cabinet member allegedly benefited from kickbacks, according to former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who claimed to have delivered funds to the official.
The senator said officials may be invited to testify before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee once the documents, including Special Allotment Release Orders (SARO) dated December 27, 2024, are authenticated.
He explained, “Ang pinagbabasehan ko lang ang hawak bigay sa akin ng lawyer ni Usec Cabral at ibang documents nakuha ko sa DPWH. Pwede ko pa-authenticate sa kanila. Bakit magkaroon ng allocable ang Cabinet secretary? ‘Pag allocable, patungkol ito sa mambabatas na naghihiling ng proyekto na hindi rin dapat para sa akin… ang NEP is exclusive domain ng executive branch.”
Lacson said the documents from Cabral’s camp link the SAROs to the release of ₱50 billion in unprogrammed appropriations, with ₱30 billion earmarked for flood control projects, many of which were later found to be “ghost projects.”
Cabral had reportedly expressed willingness to testify regarding the SAROs before her passing.