Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III expressed strong disapproval over reports that Senate President Chiz Escudero allegedly inserted ₱142.7 billion worth of “questionable” amendments in the proposed ₱6.252-trillion national budget for the year, a significant portion of which — ₱1.1 trillion — has been allocated to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
In a Viber message sent to members of the media, Sotto described the insertions as both “scandalous” and “excessive.”
“Grabe (excessive) is the word. Amendments by the Senate in the past never ran into billions (of pesos), especially if it involves the DPWH,” Sotto said.
“(It’s) scandalous, to say the least. More so when these amendments came from (budget) cuts from DepEd (Department of Education) and DOH (Department of Health).”
Sotto confirmed that once the 20th Congress convenes on Monday, July 28, he will push for a formal investigation into the budget insertions.
He also noted that he and fellow senator and ally Ping Lacson will review the final copy of the 2025 General Appropriations Act, which contains the official budget allocations of all government departments for the fiscal year.
“We will surely look into it and investigate,” Sotto asserted.
The controversy emerges just as Sotto positions himself as Escudero’s strongest contender for the Senate presidency in the upcoming 20th Congress.