Malacañang distanced itself from the issue of the leadership fund disclosed by former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

The Palace maintained that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not tolerate any irregularity in the use of national funds, regardless of who among his Cabinet members is involved.

"Kung alam ng Pangulo iyan, hindi niya iyan ito-tolerate at hindi iyan mangyayari. Pero, mga ganito kasing usapan, minsan lihim." Usec Claire Castro said.

[“If the President knew about that, he would not tolerate it and it would not happen. But matters like this are sometimes kept secret.”]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had no knowledge of the so-called leadership fund.

According to Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, the President will never tolerate such irregularities committed by any official or Cabinet member.

In fact, the President was the first to order an investigation into anomalous projects, including flood control projects.

Based on the testimony of former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan before the Sandiganbayan yesterday, in connection with the malversation case against former Senator Bong Revilla over the alleged ghost flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, he said every senator with a committee chairmanship allegedly receives what is called the "DPWH leadership fund."

This is estimated to be worth one billion pesos, while the standard allocation per senator is 500 million pesos.

Sec. Bonoan said the DPWH leadership fund is specifically set aside for projects recommended by senators.

According to the Palace official, there is nothing wrong if officials have projects. But she said it becomes a different matter if it involves anomalies and kickbacks.

In a statement from the DPWH read by Usec. Castro, the agency assured that there is no leadership fund in their proposed 2027 budget.

"No leadership fund under 2027 budget. All projects proposed in 2027 DPWH budget are based on needs of local and regional governments." Castro added.

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