Jamaine Punzalan

Sen. Panfilo Lacson leads a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects in Pasay City on January 19, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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SENATE PROBE- FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178658734806120260119-senate-probe-flood-control-lacson-JC9654.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sen. Panfilo Lacson leads a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on anomalous flood control projects in Pasay City on January 19, 2026. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday renewed his call to abolish the supposed “leadership fund” from the national budget, which he said was “a worse version” of the pork barrel system.</p><p>Lacson said the testimony of former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan highlighted how the leadership fund “provided legislators opportunity to make budget insertions even during the Preparation Phase of the national budget, or before the National Expenditure Program (NEP) is transmitted to the Congress for deliberations by both chamber, where further insertions could still be introduced.” </p><p>“The Leadership Fund aka ‘allocables’ is a worse version of the outlawed pork barrel system,” Lacson said. </p><p>“With all that said, I maintain that such anomaly in the passage of the national budget must stop,” he added.</p><div><strong>WHAT BONOAN SAID </strong></div><p>Bonoan first mentioned the “leadership fund” in September last year during a Senate Blue Ribbon hearing chaired by Lacson on the flood control scandal.  </p><p>Replying to Lacson’s query on how legislators inserted projects into the budget proposal that had not yet entered the legislative phase, Bonoan said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) consolidated lawmakers’ requested proposals into the NEP, including through the “leadership fund” in the Senate.</p><p>Bonoan said the proposals were vetted with the DPWH’s planning service so the projects being included “are consistent with development programs.”</p><p>He also said the insertions were allowed at the NEP stage to avoid complications during the bicameral conference committee, prompting Lacson to remind him that “the role of lawmakers is in the authorization phase,” or when the budget bill is submitted to Congress for deliberation.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Rd-wsXHmEMA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>On Wednesday, Bonoan testified that senators were allocated at least P500 million each under a DPWH “leadership” fund, while chairpersons of major Senate committees could receive up to P1 billion.</p><p>In his judicial affidavit, Bonoan said a <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/12/bonoan-set-to-testify-in-revilla-trial-0850">total of P24 billion</a> was allocated for senators, but the amount each senator received was subject to the discretion of then Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. He served as the Senate president from July 2022 until May 2024.</p><div><strong>SENATORS FIRE BACK </strong></div><p>Zubiri denied the allegations. </p><p>&quot;I never handled projects lists. All requests were coursed through the Senate Finance Committee. For the record, as Senate President, I never requested, held or handled any list of project requests from senators,&quot; Zubiri said in his manifestation during Wednesday’s Senate session.</p><p>He added that there are no ghost and substandard projects in his hometown of Bukidnon. </p><p>&quot;With that said, I see nothing wrong with making institutional amendments to support roads, bridges, airports, seaports…as long as these are requested and approved by the implementing agency, properly carried out and free from any interference driven by personal interests or corruption,&quot; Zubiri added, emphasizing that it is their responsibility to bring much-needed development to communities. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xBafQ2jSxE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Sen. Pia Cayetano supported Zubiri&#x27;s manifestation and said they do not tolerate corruption. </div><p>&quot;I&#x27;ll speak for myself, we don&#x27;t tolerate corruption here. But I also don&#x27;t tolerate that there are insinuations that we are doing wrong when we make amendments that are called insertions. Tatawaging insertion tapos may malisya na. Whether that is the news outlets, people out there from within the Senate, I object to that. That is not fair. Because it is our job,&quot; Cayetano said.</p><p>Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian agreed that part of their job is to help agencies and local government units and make the budget process transparent. </p><p>&quot;Itong mga proposals and amendments ay ginawa nating transparent. Kaya ho tumagal ang proseso natin last year dahil lahat ng senador tumayo para iexplain ang kanilang mga amendments at mabigay ng supporting documents,&quot; Gatchalian said. </p><p>&quot;Lahat ng amendment sa 2026 naka-upload sa website by senator, by request from agencies na puwede hong tignan ng ating mga kababayan itong inamend nating itesm sa 2026 budget. Even yung bicam. Kaya ho yung bicam umabot ng isang linggo…. at naka-livestream in full view of our constituents,&quot; he added. </p><p>Current Committee on Finance Chairman JV Ejercito committed to continuing the reforms implemented by Gatchalian last year, when he held the same position. </p><p>&quot;There were safeguards that were put in place and belt tightening and so on,&quot; Ejercito said. &quot;Of course, everything will be available online. The bicam will also be open, it will be an open bicam. And we will also consult the civil society organization so it will be a very open budget and all the information that will be needed will be readily available.&quot; </p><div><strong>— With reports from RG Cruz and Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News </strong></div><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday renewed his call to abolish the supposed “leadership fund” from the national budget, which he said was “a worse version” of the pork barrel system.</p>

Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Thursday renewed his call to abolish the supposed “leadership fund” from the national budget, which he said was “a worse version” of the pork barrel system.

Lacson says ‘leadership fund’ a ‘worse version of pork barrel’

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Lacson says ‘leadership fund’ a ‘worse version of pork barrel’

ABS-CBN News

Published August 13, 2026 10:24 AM PHT

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