Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Victoria Tulad

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — There is nothing in the P6.7 trillion 2026 national budget that could be used for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>This, according to Senator Erwin Tulfo, a vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a member of the bicameral conference committee, who participated in the crafting of the budget.</p><p>Tulfo’s statement comes after Senator Imee Marcos, a fellow vice chair and bicam member, claimed that there is pork in the 2026 budget that will be allegedly used to impeach Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/7/ridon-no-basis-for-claims-that-2026-budget-has-funding-for-impeachment-bid-vs-vp-duterte-1635">Ridon: &#x27;No basis&#x27; for claims that 2026 budget has funding for impeachment bid vs. VP Duterte</a></div><p>“That’s her opinion. Pero sa akin wala naman akong nakikita na ganun so I don’t think so,” Tulfo said in a press conference on Thursday.</p><p> “As vice chair, wala akong nakita na pondo para gamitin to operate against the Vice President for impeachment,” he added.</p><p>Tulfo said the budget is pork-free as opposed to the allegation of Marcos.</p><p>“I don&#x27;t know kung saan nakuha ni Senator Imee yung idea na yun, pero as far as I know bilang vice chair ng bicam, talaga namang nakita natin, binantayan natin, naka-live din naman, naka-livestream, nakita naman ninyo,” Tulfo said.</p><p>Meanwhile, Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña on Friday Marcos not to confuse the public by linking the 2026 budget and Duterte’s impeachment woes.   </p><p>“Dahil dito sa mga sinasabing ito… napapaisip tayo, siya ba ay senador o president ng Sara Duterte Fans Club? Ano ‘yung kanyang trabaho? Legislator ba o defender-in-chief?” Cendaña said.</p><p>“Kung magkakaroon man ng impeachment ngayong 2026, ‘yan ay dahil doon sa mga unresolved na mga issues pa rin doon sa pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan ni VP Sara nung siya ay DepEd Secretary at ngayon na siya ay Vice President ng ating bansa. So, ‘wag natin lituhin ang taong bayan. Ang usapin dito, pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan, ang usapin dito, ‘yung nawawalang milyong-milyong piso doon sa… Confidential Funds na matapos ng isang taon ay hindi pa rin pinapaliwanag ng bise presidente,” he added.</p><p>Duterte has denied misusing confidential funds and said the allegations were politically motivated. </p><p>Marcos later clarified that her impeachment claim is only speculation.</p><p>Asked if he is confident that there will be no more corruption in the 2026 budget, Tulfo replied, “My instincts tell me na gagawa&#x27;t gagawa ng paraan. May mga gagawa&#x27;t gagawa ng paraan. You cannot stop corruption immediately. Because it&#x27;s a system… Siguro dahan-dahan, it will take years.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/4/gatchalian-says-98-confident-2026-budget-is-clean-1738">Gatchalian says &#x27;98% confident&#x27; 2026 budget is clean</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>AYUDA PROGRAMS</strong></div><p>Tulfo also defended the funding for ayuda programs such as Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Medical Assistance for Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP) program, saying these are needed.</p><p>“I agreed na taasan po yung AICS po natin because nakita po natin last year na sunod-sunod po yung bagyo,” Tulfo said.</p><p>“MAIFIP napag-usapan namin yun kasi dati, hindi tumatanggap ng MAIP ang mga private hospitals. Okay, sinasabi, libre naman sa DOH hospitals…. ang problema, makakapasok ka ba? Kasi ang capacity lang nila, 300, 400 bed capacity,” Tulfo said. “Anong option mo? Pupunta ka sa private… Kaya tinaasan natin ang MAIFIP.”</p><p>To ensure that ayuda programs will not be used for patronage politics, Tulfo said he will incorporate an anti-epal provision in his Senate Bill 1445 or the “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Act.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/01/06/21/anti-epal-provision-in-2021-national-budget-gets-adopted">&#x27;Anti-epal&#x27; provision in 2021 national budget gets adopted</a></div>

<p>“As vice chair, wala akong nakita na pondo para gamitin to operate against the Vice President for impeachment,” Tulfo said.</p>

“As vice chair, wala akong nakita na pondo para gamitin to operate against the Vice President for impeachment,” Tulfo said.

Tulfo denies 2026 budget will be used for Sara Duterte impeachment

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Tulfo denies 2026 budget will be used for Sara Duterte impeachment

Victoria Tulad,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 08, 2026 04:27 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 09, 2026 04:03 PM PHT

Read More:

Erwin Tulfo

Impeachment

Sara Duterte

2026 budget

Corruption

Ayuda

Imee Marcos

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