Lacson: ₱600-M Bulacan flood control fund not in GAA, but unprogrammed

Metro Manila, Philippines – While the ₱600 million allegedly inserted by Senator Joel Villanueva could not be found in the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the same amount appears under unprogrammed appropriations, Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed.

“Indeed, meron talagang ₱600 million as described, as enumerated under the unprogrammed fund [Indeed, there is P600 million as described and enumerated under the unprogrammed fund],” Lacson said during a brief manifestation at the Senate hearing on anomalous flood control projects held Thursday, Sept. 18.

He noted that the allocations were listed as eight separate items worth ₱75 million each.

“Ito yung kineclaim niyo na ininsert ni Senator Joel sa Bulacan [This is the amount you claim Senator Joel insisted on allocating to Bulacan],” Lacson said.

Earlier, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)–Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez alleged that Villanueva received 30 percent – or P180 million – of the ₱600 million as kickbacks for the budget proponent.

Hernandez also made a similar claim against Senator Jinggoy Estrada, saying the latter allegedly received 30 percent of a separate ₱355 million insertion for flood control projects in Bulacan.

Estrada and Villanueva denied the allegations.

Lacson had earlier confirmed that the ₱355 million was indeed inserted during Senate deliberations or in the bicameral conference committee. However, he clarified that, “in fairness” to Villanueva, the P600 million could not be found in the GAA.

Still, Lacson underscored that the burden of proof lies with Hernandez to substantiate his allegations that any senator received kickbacks.

During the hearing, Villanueva directly confronted Hernandez and challenged him to locate the alleged ₱600 million allocation in the 2023 budget.

Hernandez later clarified that the funds were listed under unprogrammed appropriations, which can only be accessed if there are excess government revenues or through loans.Lacson said the issue would be further discussed in the next hearing.