Sen. Legarda seeks senate probe into batangas barangays aid exclusion

May 08, 2026

Reported by AI

Sen. Loren Legarda has called for a Senate inquiry into the exclusion of 84 barangays in Taal and Nasugbu, Batangas from a government assistance program.

She said the exclusion smacked of discrimination in the rollout of the “Bawat Barangay Makikinabang” program led by the provincial government and Executive Secretary Ralph Recto. Legarda cited reports suggesting the move was influenced by local political factors.

She pointed to the 2025 General Appropriations Act, which bars politicians from involvement in aid distribution. Public funds must not serve as tools for political reward or factionalism, she added.

Recto responded by claiming that Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, Legarda’s son, had tried to bribe him and reduced his mother to tears with his actions.

Lacson pushes end to ‘allocables’ and leadership fund

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said the Blue Ribbon committee recommends abolishing the alleged “leadership fund” and banning “allocables” in the national budget as part of its flood control probe. Initial findings show the House leadership controls at least P143.5 billion in “allocables.”

Groups urge BIR to investigate Marcoleta's campaign spending

February 25, 2026 Reported by AI

Civil society groups have urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue to investigate Senator Rodante Marcoleta's campaign spending in the 2025 elections over potential tax violations. In a letter, they highlighted Marcoleta's admission of receiving undisclosed donations despite declaring zero contributions in his official filing.

Politics

Lacson to present flood probe progress report in Senate

Politics

Palace pushes for faster corruption probes and asset freezes

Politics

Senator Jinggoy Estrada barred from leaving Philippines over flood control corruption allegations

Supreme Court asked to order automatic release of LGU tax shares

Batangas Vice Governor Hermilando Mandanas and the Philippine Councilors League filed a petition with the Supreme Court on March 3, seeking enforcement of the automatic release of national tax allocations to local government units due to a reported P155.9 billion shortfall for 2026.

Lawmakers criticize Duterte camp's bid to halt impeachment at Supreme Court

March 27, 2026 Reported by AI

Lawmakers hit back at a Supreme Court petition by Vice President Sara Duterte's allies seeking to block her ongoing impeachment proceedings in the House of Representatives. The move comes after the House justice committee advanced two complaints to hearings.

Politics