Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go rejected claims on Wednesday regarding an alleged ₱24-billion “leadership fund” during Zubiri’s tenure as Senate chief, refuting assertions made by former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.
Zubiri denied any involvement in managing or requesting lists of infrastructure projects from colleagues while serving as Senate president from July 2022 to May 2024.
“As Senate president, I never requested, held or handled any list of project requests from senators,” Zubiri said in a statement.
“Walang pong dumaan na proposed budget amendments sa ating tanggapan. Alam ng mga senador yan,” he said.
Zubiri clarified that senators submitted their proposed budget amendments to the Senate finance committee, which oversees budget deliberations for the chamber.
The denial follows Bonoan’s testimony before the Sandiganbayan Third Division, where the former Cabinet official claimed that lawmakers received “leadership funds” for recommending infrastructure projects.
Go also dismissed Bonoan’s claims, which implicated him and Senator Robin Padilla in submitting project lists under the alleged funding scheme. In a manifestation, Go urged Bonoan to concentrate on his court proceedings rather than involving legislators.
Bonoan currently faces malversation charges alongside former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and former Department of Public Works and Highways officials over a suspected P92.8-million ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan.
“Siya ang akusado. It would be best that he focuses his defense on proving his innocence rather than dragging our work as legislators into their mess. Dinamay pa nga kami ni Senator Robin,” Go said.
Go emphasized that having a project named in a proposal does not signify wrongdoing or a connection to flood control funds.
“So bago lagyan ng kulay ang pagbanggit ng pangalan ko, ni Senator Robin, sa kanyang testimonya, bigyan sana ng tamang konteksto dahil mula noon hanggang ngayon, wala naman tayong ibang pakay kundi magtrabaho at magserbisyo lang po sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Go added that his own legislative proposals have faced delays in funding, stating,
“As early as 2023, yung mga amendments natin hindi pa nare-release dahil identified po ako sa nakaraang administrasyon.”