Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said a handwritten note from a late public works official indicated that Senator Rodante Marcoleta requested ₱500 million in infrastructure project allocations, prompting the minority lawmaker to question why he was singled out.
“May sulat-kamay ni late Usec. Cabral, nag-allocate siya based sa request ng allocables, nakapag-allocate siya ng ₱500 million projects kay Sen. Marcoleta,” Lacson said in a radio interview on Wednesday, May 6, based on a transcript in a news release.
[Translation: There is a handwritten note from the late Undersecretary Cabral showing she made allocations based on requests for allocables, and she was able to allocate P500 million worth of projects to Senator Marcoleta.]
“Hindi kasama iyan sa hawak ng Ombudsman. So papadala namin yan. Galing mismo yan sa kampo ni Usec. Cabral,” he added.
[Translation: This is not included in the documents held by the Ombudsman, so we will submit it. This came directly from the camp of Undersecretary Cabral.]
Lacson was referring to the late former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Cathy Cabral, who admitted to facilitating so-called “allocables” — infrastructure projects that could be requested by lawmakers and other officials.
Asked during the Kapihan sa Senado forum whether he was recommending an investigation on Marcoleta, Lacson said it would depend on whether irregularities are found.
“Sa ngayon hindi. Kung may ghost na attributed sa kanya, kung may participation siya sa naging ghost or substandard,” Lacson said.
[Translation: Not at this time. If there are ghost projects attributed to him, or if he had participation in ghost or substandard projects.]
In a privilege speech Wednesday evening, Marcoleta did not deny the alleged “allocables” but took offense at the suggestion that he could be investigated.
“Kung ang pag-eendorso ng mga proyekto sa DPWH ay basehan ni Senator Lacson ng pagpapaimbestiga sa akin, hindi ba’t halos [lahat] dapat ng mga senador ay imbestigahan na rin,” Marcoleta said.
[Translation: If endorsing projects to the DPWH is Senator Lacson’s basis for investigating me, then shouldn’t almost all senators be investigated as well?]
He cited Lacson’s earlier remarks that nearly all senators in the previous Congress inserted a total of ₱100 billion in projects in the 2025 budget.
Lacson clarified that while he is pushing to stop the practice of “allocables” which he called improper, it is legal unless anomalies are proven in the projects.
He added that his team is reviewing flood control projects in the Visayas and Mindanao to uncover possible irregularities. The Senate blue ribbon committee may resume its probe into the flood control controversy once sufficient evidence is gathered, Lacson said.
Why not sign?
Earlier on Tuesday, Lacson delivered a privilege speech presenting some findings from a partial committee report, which still lacks two signatures before it can be sponsored in plenary.
Among its recommendations is to investigate Senators Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva for their alleged involvement in project insertions and kickbacks related to flood control projects. All three have denied the allegations and declined to sign the report.
Lacson said signing the report would give them the opportunity to defend themselves and potentially have their names removed if a majority of senators are convinced.
“Habang nag interpellate, pwede sabihing hindi totoo yan at ipa-strike out ang portion na nagre-recommend. Kung umabot kami sa interpellation and amendment at makatwiran… ito ang aking depensa at nanalo sa botohan, na-convince ako as chairman, sabihin ko accepted,” Lacson explained.
[Translation: During interpellation, they can say those claims are not true and move to strike out the portions recommending investigation. If we reach the stage of interpellation and amendments, and their defense is reasonable and wins in a vote, then as chairman I can say it is accepted.]
