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.”
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson announced on Monday that the Blue Ribbon committee's initial findings reveal at least P143.5 billion in “allocables” controlled by House leadership, which he previously called the new pork barrel.
The “leadership fund” reportedly allowed lawmakers to alter the National Expenditure Program, the proposed national budget. Former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan testified that he accommodated lawmakers' proposals and inserted funds to “avoid complications” at the bicameral conference committee.
Lacson cited documents from the camp of the late public works undersecretary Catalina Cabral showing at least five Cabinet members and undersecretaries with allocables or non-allocables worth billions in the 2025 budget. Before her death, Cabral allegedly contacted lawmakers to allocate funds for pet projects in exchange for commissions. Party-lists and non-legislators like Bonoan also had P30.5 billion in allocables for 2025 alone.
The committee will recommend stronger powers for the Office of the Ombudsman, including its own law enforcement arm to enforce search warrants and authority to deputize private lawyers, Lacson said. He canceled the probe's resumption pending a draft affidavit from former Ilocos Sur governor Luis Singson on the alleged kickbacks scheme.
Separately, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure turned over two luxury vehicles surrendered by former Bulacan public works district engineer Brice Hernandez to the ombudsman, as part of evidence transmitted on March 13.
