Pauline Pancho

Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, in the 29th plenary session today, November 18, 2025, shed light on controversies involving alleged budget insertions and supposed commissions linked to the President.

Lacson directly addressed claims made by Congressman Zaldy Co on social media, where Co allegedly spoke about delivering ₱25 billion, representing a so-called 25% commission purportedly meant for the President.

“That I will attest na ‘di totoo. ‘Yun talaga ay absolutely untrue or completely false,” Lacson declared.

He recounted a conversation last Sunday with the office of former Undersecretary Bernardo regarding Co’s viral statements about a ₱100-billion insertion in the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam), which Co believed was instructed by the President.

According to Lacson, Bernardo insisted that the president never gave such orders. Instead, he said certain individuals in Malacañang, not the President nor anyone authorized by him, misrepresented the Chief Executive.

Lacson identified those he said were involved:

“I will name some of them, Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, he name-dropped the President, making Zaldy Co believe na utos ng pangulo na ipasok sa bicam ‘yung insertions na ₱100 billion. Usec. Trygve Olaivar and other personalities…”

Regarding the ₱100 billion figure, Lacson shared Bernardo’s explanation of the breakdown. Of the total amount, ₱81 billion was assigned to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), while ₱29 billion went to other agencies.

Bernardo reportedly told Lacson that ₱52 billion out of the ₱81 billion assigned to DPWH was personally handled by him.

Lacson also quoted Bernardo admitting to delivering money as kickbacks, not to the President, but to Undersecretary Olaivar, supposedly with Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin’s involvement.

Their alleged arrangement, according to Lacson, involved ₱8 billion in kickbacks delivered in at least 10 tranches.

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Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Claire Castro announced in a press briefing on November 17, 2025, that Budget Secretary Ameenah Pangandaman and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin have tendered their resignations, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. officially accepted.

According to Castro, “Both officials respectfully offered and tendered their resignation out of delicadeza” following the mention of their departments in the ongoing investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects. Their decision, she said, aims to allow the administration to address the matter “appropriately and without hindrance.”

The controversy intensified after a November 14 statement from former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co, who claimed that Secretary Pangandaman relayed to him a supposed directive from the President to insert ₱100 billion into the bicameral conference committee report—an instruction he said was later confirmed by Secretary Bersamin.

In the wake of the resignations, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has been appointed as the new Executive Secretary. Meanwhile, Budget Undersecretary Rolando Yu Toledo will serve as Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Budget and Management

Senators sharply raised concerns over the persistent issue of technical smuggling, as discussions on the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) proposed budget continued during the resumption of the Senate plenary session today, November 17, 2025. 

Sen. Risa Hontiveros opened the debate by stressing how technical smuggling, particularly through misdeclaration of imported rice, continues to drain government revenues and harm Filipino farmers.

‍“Malaking halaga ang nawawalang revenues, negatively affected ang ating mga magsasaka dahil sa pag-misdeclare ng mas mababang kalidad at halaga para sa ating mga ini-import na bigas,” Hontiveros said.

She pressed Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno on how the agency plans to finally address what she described as the “walang kamatayang ‘age-old’ problem” of smuggling.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian echoed her concerns, warning that nobody wins when smuggling persists.

“Wala hong panalo sa smuggling. Talo na po ang farmers natin, tapos wala pa tayong revenues na nakukuha. Wala pong nagbe-benefisyo diyan,” he said.

Despite the challenges, Gatchalian commended the BOC’s ongoing operations against illegal imports.

“In fairness to them, talagang tuloy-tuloy po ang kanilang pagsugpo dito sa smuggling sa ating bansa. To date, ang value po ng goods na na-seize nila ay ₱4.7 billion,” he noted.

When asked whether cracking down on technical smuggling remains among the agency’s top concerns, Gatchalian affirmed that it is:

“nasa top priority … nasa top 1,”

adding that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has given explicit instructions to pursue smugglers relentlessly.

“Hindi lang po ma-seize yung goods, kundi makasuhan at manalo tayo sa kaso,” he emphasized.

The senator also pointed out the need to revisit existing laws, citing past cases where drivers or laborers were used as consignees instead of the real masterminds behind smuggling operations.

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Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumed its public hearing today, November 14, 2025, to investigate alleged anomalies in flood control projects nationwide. Members of the House of Representatives earlier implicated in testimonies, such as House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Cong. Eric Yap, were invited to attend the session. 

According to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, the lawmakers opted not to appear “in order to avoid any possible prejudice to the ongoing investigation and eventual findings of the ICI,” stressing that they had already submitted themselves to the jurisdiction of the Internal Committee on Investigation.

Rep. Zaldy Co was also expected to face the committee following allegations linking him to questionable flood control programs. But his counsel, Atty. Ruy Alberto S. Rondain wrote to the committee, saying Co could not attend as he remained under medical care. Rondain added that he feared any statement Co might issue “may, at best, preempt any defense he may set up.”

Aside from Co, the committee also noted several other absentees, such as Jonathan Quirante of Quirante Constructions, Eumir Villanueva of Topnotch Catalyst Builders, and Engr. Arjay Dumasig.

Some government officials also cited medical reasons for their absence, including DPWH NCR Regional Director Engr. Gerard Opulencia, South Manila District Engineer Manny Bulusan, and Commissioner Mario Lipana.

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Former Chief Legal Counsel and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile has passed away at the age of 101. His daughter, Katrina Ponce Enrile, confirmed his death in a Facebook post on Wednesday, November 13, 2025.

“It is with profound love and gratitude that my father, Juan Ponce Enrile, peacefully returned to his Creator on November 13, 2025, at 4:21 p.m., surrounded by our family in the comfort of our home,” Katrina wrote.

Just a day before his passing, Katrina shared an update that her father was confined in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to pneumonia.

The Enrile family has asked for the public’s understanding as they take a moment to grieve privately and honor his memory in peace. 

Katrina added that details regarding the public viewing will be announced once arrangements are finalized, to allow those who wish to pay their respects to do so.

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