Senate majority bloc backs budget purge
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate majority bloc is backing a planned purge of the House-approved 2027 national budget bill riddled with “corruption-prone” insertions, with Sen. Panfilo Lacson giving assurance that no one would be spared.
“The majority of senators are rallying behind Senate Finance Committee Chairman JV Ejercito’s efforts to cleanse the 2027 budget of unwarranted, whimsical, and corruption-prone items. – ALL MEANS ALL!” Lacson said in a social media post yesterday.
Lacson earlier told “Storycon” on One News that the budget scrutiny would “absolutely” include Ilocos Norte’s first district represented by President Marcos’ son Sandro, which received a large chunk of public works funding insertions.
The declaration of support follows Ejercito’s recent ultimatum to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which has until Nov. 3 to submit complete supporting documents for 6,271 new infrastructure projects inserted by the House of Representatives, or risk having them stripped from the national spending bill.
A Senate review had exposed that DPWH infrastructure projects ballooned from 11,420 in the executive’s original National Expenditure Program to 16,244 in the House-transmitted General Appropriations Bill.
To prevent backroom deals and safeguard the budget process, Lacson noted that the Senate would sustain transparency reforms instituted by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.
Ejercito has also committed to inviting civil society organizations to observe the bicameral conference committee deliberations, which will be livestreamed to the public.
As for the upper chamber, Lacson doubts any senator would attempt to slip in unvetted funding given the majority’s current hardline stance.
The Senate will formally tackle the budget bill when it resumes plenary sessions on Nov. 9, with full plenary debates expected to commence on Nov. 23.
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Samtang si Lustre gikiha og cyber...r HeadlinesSARA Sara walay ebidensiya October 27, 2026 - 12:00am Duha ka semana human gilibkas sa Senate impeachment court ang pagdili batok ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte pagtuki sa merito sa articles of impeachment nga gibakwi sa prosekusyon, wala pa gihapon siyay napakita...r HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE next Recommended Stone dialogue Headline: “Senate minority urges government to pursue dialogue with Bato de la Rosa”. 1 day ago TRENDING Mga numero ni Sara Labing lisod nga tubagon ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte sa iyang turno sa pagpresentar og mga ebidensiya ug mga testigo sa pagpadayon sa impeachment trial karong Nobyembre 9 mao ang dakong kalainan sa mga numero sa iyang Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth ug bank accounts. 3 days ago SARA DUTERTE The Supreme Court's power of judicial review Whenever the highest court of the land calls out the executive or the legislative departments for grave abuses of discretion or going overboard in the scope of their respective authority, the Supreme Court doesn’t essentially assert superiority over the president or the Lower House and the Senate. It merely protects and upholds the Constitution, which we all know as the highest law of the land. 5 days ago GRAVE Bawos sa mga Duterte Managsama silang Bise Presidente Sara Duterte ug Philip Lustre Jr. nga nalutsan og arrest warrant sa adlawng Biyernes. Si Sara gikiha og grave threats sa Department of Justice (DOJ). Samtang si Lustre gikiha og cyber libel sa bana ni VP Sara nga si Atty. Mans Carpio. 5 days ago SARA Sara walay ebidensiya Duha ka semana human gilibkas sa Senate impeachment court ang pagdili batok ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte pagtuki sa merito sa articles of impeachment nga gibakwi sa prosekusyon, wala pa gihapon siyay napakita nga bisan unsang ebidensiya pagpanghimakak nga: 6 days ago SARA DUTERTE OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!
