Jasha Gamao

The Senate Finance Subcommittee brought the hammer down on Monday, resuming its intense scrutiny of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) proposed 2026 budget. 

At the heart of the controversy are a staggering 6,187 projects valued at P271 billion, all bearing a bright red flag. 

Senators sought immediate clarification on why these vital infrastructure plans were plagued by serious irregularities, including the mysterious absence of station numbers (making location impossible to verify), outright duplicate entries, and projects reappearing despite being fully funded in the previous year's budget. 

The sheer scale of the flagged funds has put immense pressure on public works officials to justify every peso before the budget is approved.

Facing the heat, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon defended the agency's validation efforts, assuring the committee that the most serious issues were being rapidly addressed. 

He pushed back against the suggestion that thousands of projects were simply duplicates, confirming that they had already verified a significant portion of the listings. 

Addressing the accusations head-on, Secretary Dizon reported that almost 800 seemingly repetitive projects were verified as legitimate continuations, and over 4,000 of the projects initially lacking station numbers have since been corrected.

Despite the progress, the DPWH requested more time to fully justify the balance of the controversial budget items, pushing against a looming Senate deadline. 

This prompted the legislature to issue a warning: any project not satisfactorily accounted for would be immediately removed from the 2026 spending plan. 

Acknowledging the gravity of the situation and the pressure for accountability, Secretary Dizon signaled his acceptance of the Senate’s authority over the matter, submitting to their timetable by stating: "Kung sabihin niyo po Mr Chairman na hanggang kahapon na lang then please feel free to remove the other projects."

Beyond the budget list itself, the hearing also addressed public complaints about redundant and unnecessary road works. Senator Erwin Tulfo called out the recurring issue of newly-paved roads being dug up and repaved repeatedly. 

The DPWH Secretary conceded that this has been a long-standing public concern, but assured the committee that immediate action has been taken to stop the practice. 

In a move to enforce discipline and create clear guidelines, Secretary Dizon confirmed the nationwide suspension: "But for your information po senator pinahinto na po namin as of October 7 ang lahat ng rebracking activities nationwide muna." 

The final decision on the P271 billion remains on a razor's edge, highlighting the intense battle between infrastructure needs and fiscal integrity.

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A legal challenge is currently unfolding in the Philippines, casting a long shadow over the political career of Senator Erwin Tulfo.

The Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) has confirmed it is reviewing a quo warranto petition filed against the neophyte lawmaker. This powerful legal move directly questions his right to hold office, primarily citing alleged citizenship issues. 

Should the petition succeed, it could result in the senator's shocking and immediate removal, sending a tremor through the country's political landscape.

The bombshell was quietly dropped during the Senate Committee on Finance's budget deliberations for the SET. While Deputy Secretary Eleanor Francisco-Anunciacion initially avoided naming the specific senator, the severity of the situation was clear: a sitting senator was under scrutiny for failing the basic eligibility requirement of citizenship. 

The petition, filed on July 15, 2025, instantly raised the stakes, turning a routine budget hearing into a moment of high political tension.

The identity of the target and the petitioner soon became undeniable. A slide in the SET’s presentation revealed that the quo warranto petition was lodged by Berteni Cataluna Causing against Senator Erwin T. Tulfo. 

This isn't the first time these two names have clashed. Causing, described by the senator as a "disbarred lawyer," has a history of filing legal challenges against Tulfo. This suggests a deeply entrenched, ongoing legal feud that has now reached the highest level of political contestation.

However, Senator Tulfo appears unfazed by the latest attack, framing it as a predictable continuation of the past. 

He stated that he wasn't surprised, noting that the "same person" repeatedly filed disqualification cases against him during his senatorial campaign.

Crucially, Tulfo reminded the public that all previous disqualification cases filed by Causing against him have been dismissed. The senator stressed his commitment to his mandate, asserting, "We were elected by the people to serve, and that is what we continue to do."

It is true that Causing's past efforts to block Tulfo's run were unsuccessful. Before the 2025 midterm elections, the petitioner cited multiple grounds beyond citizenship—including a libel conviction, alleged violations of anti-political dynasty rules, and questionable academic qualifications. 

Yet, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ultimately junked a prior disqualification case against Tulfo in March. Part of the ruling even clarified that "lack of Philippine citizenship" and other claims made were not grounds for disqualification in that specific context, though a quo warranto petition to the SET is a distinct and potent legal challenge.

With the petition now officially pending before the SET, the fate of Senator Tulfo hangs in balance. While his legal team will undoubtedly leverage his track record of dismissed cases and the strong mandate he received from the electorate, the quo warranto petition demands a full, definitive legal review of his qualifications. 

The nation watches as the Tribunal begins its preliminary actions, knowing that its final ruling could either cement Tulfo’s place in the Senate or execute a dramatic political removal based on a fundamental technicality.

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The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) found its expansive digital agenda subjected to intense scrutiny on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, as the Senate Finance Subcommittee A convened a budget briefing. Lawmakers closely examined the agency's proposed ₱18.9 billion appropriation for Fiscal Year 2026, raising sharp questions about the scale of its technology spending and the transparency of its spending plans. The session signaled a tough road ahead for the DICT, as senators demanded clear, cost-effective strategies for bridging the nation's digital divide.

The proposed budget reveals a significant concentration of funds, with the Office of the Secretary alone slated to receive a staggering ₱17.35 billion. While the DICT's core mandate includes nationwide digital transformation, this massive allocation overshadowed the budgets of its key attached agencies. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, the National Privacy Commission, and the National Telecommunications Commission were earmarked substantially smaller amounts—₱463.08 million, ₱440.53 million, and ₱675.88 million, respectively—prompting unspoken queries on prioritization and the balance of funding for critical regulatory and cybersecurity functions.

Central to the Senate’s inquiry were the DICT’s ambitious connectivity programs, particularly the expansion of satellite-based internet services and the drive to enhance government-provided Wi-Fi in remote areas. Senators challenged the department to present detailed plans demonstrating value for money. They emphasized that the focus should be on maximizing and utilizing existing national infrastructure before embarking on costly new ventures, stressing that every peso spent must lead to guaranteed, reliable, and universal internet access for all citizens, especially those in underserved communities.

The demanding examination underscored a growing legislative push for greater accountability in the government's digital shift. As billions are proposed for critical tech initiatives, lawmakers are clearly no longer satisfied with broad spending mandates. The emphasis on "maximizing existing infrastructure" and "cost-efficiency" reveals a legislative commitment to preventing potential wastage and ensuring that the DICT’s digital rollout is strategically sound, fiscally responsible, and directly benefits the Filipino public.

Ultimately, the Senate briefing served as a clear warning shot: the DICT’s P18.9 billion budget for 2026 will not receive automatic approval. The department must now provide concrete evidence and assurances to the Senate that its massive funding request will be used transparently and effectively to secure the nation’s digital future. The coming weeks of deliberation will be crucial in determining whether the agency’s ambitious plans are financially justified and capable of delivering the transformative connectivity promised to the public.

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A legislative push for unprecedented accountability in government spending began with urgency at the Senate on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, as the Committee on Justice and Human Rights opened its public hearing on the proposed Independent People's Commission (IPC). The measure, Senate Bill No. 1215, seeks to establish a powerful, independent body focused exclusively on investigating the pervasive corruption, overpricing, and anomalies in all national infrastructure projects. The hearing brought together key legislative leaders and respected jurists to debate the final form of what may become the ultimate weapon against the systemic fraud that has bled billions from the public treasury.

In his opening salvo, Committee on Justice and Human Rights Chairman Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan immediately pressed for immediate action, calling on the Executive to prioritize the measure. “Truth delayed is justice denied,” Pangilinan declared, underscoring the necessity of passing the bill quickly to address the current crisis of public trust. 

He stressed that the IPC must be made permanent, unlike the existing, temporary commission created by Executive Order. “Kung maisasabatas ang komisyong ito, ay magiging mas malakas at mas malaya kumpara sa kasalukuyang ICI sa ilalim ng isang executive order. Senate Bill No. 1215 ay nagbibigay sa IPC ng statutory permanence, ganap na kalayaan at garantisado ang transparency at fiscal autonomy.”

As the bill’s principal author, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III outlined his vision for a truly comprehensive oversight body. Sotto proposed numerous amendments to strengthen the bill, including granting the IPC the power to file cases, recommend the preventive suspension of corrupt officials, and request the freezing of assets. He emphasized that the IPC's mandate must be broad enough to cover all government sectors, not just roads and bridges. “This Independent People's Commission that we would like to push for is not limited to infrastructure. It is encompassing. It will include everything that would need investigation of the people and different sectors of the government,” Sotto insisted.

Adding institutional weight to the hearing was former Senate President Franklin Drilon, who echoed the call for urgency while reflecting on the severe scale of the nation's corruption problem. Drilon supported certifying the bill as urgent, stating that the current situation demands a powerful response to a corrosive "culture of impunity." The veteran lawmaker admitted the magnitude of the problem had reached unprecedented levels: “I have never seen corruption in this magnitude in my 24 years. It’s a culture of impunity and a failure of our justice system. We must restore the people's faith in democracy by showing that it can still deliver justice.”

The debate then moved to the legal teeth of the proposed commission, with former Chief Justice Renato Puno strongly asserting that the existing commission lacks the necessary authority to deal with the problem. When asked about the current body’s capacity to address the "largest corruption scandal ever in the country's history," Puno did not mince words. “Yes, and I’d like to think that that opinion is shared by the people in our country,” he replied. Puno proposed that the IPC be given powers far beyond mere investigation, citing international success stories. “We hail the model of Singapore—[or] Hong Kong. They have power to prosecute, not just to investigate. Not just to be glorified researchers,” the former Chief Justice recommended.

The key distinction of Senate Bill No. 1215, as emphasized by its proponents, is its commitment to independence. By guaranteeing statutory permanence and fiscal autonomy—features absent in the current Executive Order-created commission—the IPC would be protected from political meddling, ensuring its investigations are non-partisan and focused solely on fact-finding. This independence is paramount to attract high-caliber experts and earn the public's full trust.

As the Senate proceeds with the bill’s deliberation, the consensus among the most respected voices in government is clear: the existing system has failed, and a new, powerful, and permanent watchdog is necessary. The fate of the Independent People's Commission now rests on the legislature’s ability to pass a law that is not only robust enough to dismantle syndicated corruption but also efficient enough to deliver the swift justice that the nation’s taxpayers have long been denied.

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The Senate of the Philippines on Thursday has given a thunderous vote of confidence to the nation's soaring volleyball stars, Alas Pilipinas. In a rare display of unanimous support, the chamber adopted Resolution No. 27, officially commending the Men’s National Volleyball Team for their unprecedented performance at the 2025 Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Men’s World Championships. This resolution is more than just a formal gesture; it's the nation's legislative body recognizing a sporting milestone that has captured the Filipino heart and energized national pride.

The commendation is well-earned, marking a truly historic chapter for Philippine volleyball. Alas Pilipinas secured a remarkable 19th-place finish out of 32 participating global squads—the highest-ever placement by a Filipino men’s team in the tournament's history. This debut run on the world stage, especially as the sole host of the tournament, was nothing short of electrifying. The team showed incredible grit, securing a historic first win against Egypt and pushing Asian powerhouse Iran to a thrilling five-set encounter that had the nation on the edge of its seat.

This exceptional showing, fueled by fan support and the on-court heroics of players like top-scorers Bryan Bagunas and Marck Espejo, has done more than just update the record books. The Senate resolution correctly frames the achievement as a powerful testament to the growing strength of Philippine volleyball and the talent of Filipino athletes. It serves as a strong signal that the nation, often overlooked in the global men's volleyball arena, is now ready to compete with the world's best and deserves sustained support for its sports development programs.

For the young athletes of Alas Pilipinas, the Senate's official commendation is a fitting tribute to their dedication and sacrifices. Their collective effort has become a potent symbol of Filipino resilience and athletic potential, sparking a renewed wave of enthusiasm for the sport across the archipelago. The resolution is not an ending but a powerful starting block, encouraging the national team to aim even higher and inspiring a new generation of players to take up the spike.

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