Timeline Matters: Lacson Denies Senators’ Role in Alleged DPWH Budget Insertions
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has firmly rejected claims that senators elected in 2022 were involved in alleged budget insertions in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the 2025 national budget.
Lacson’s response zeroes in on a point often ignored in public outrage:
👉 The timeline does not support the accusation.
⏱️ Why the Timeline Is Crucial
According to Lacson, the 2025 national budget was crafted and approved by the 19th Congress, before senators elected in May 2022 even assumed office.
This means:
Newly elected senators could not have participated in drafting DPWH allocations
Claims must clearly distinguish which Congress approved the budget
Sweeping allegations risk misleading the public and unfairly implicating officials
“Congressman Leviste should at least qualify his statement with the phrase ‘in the 19th Congress’ in fairness to new members,” Lacson said.
🧾 Request vs. Insertion
Lacson reiterated a key distinction often blurred in budget debates:
Submitting project requests to agencies is a routine legislative function
Insertions refer to items added outside the National Expenditure Program (NEP) without proper process
Not every name on a document equals wrongdoing.
Precision, Lacson stressed, is essential if accountability is to mean anything.
🦅 AGILA TAKE
Hindi lahat ng nakapirma ay may sala.
Hindi lahat ng request ay singit.
Kapag mali ang petsa,
mali ang paratang.
⚖️ Protecting Due Process
Lacson warned that careless accusations can:
Damage reputations without evidence
Distract investigators from real anomalies
Allow actual offenders to hide behind public confusion
As chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, he emphasized that facts, documents, and chronology — not noise — must guide investigations.
📖 Biblical Reflection
“An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.”
— Proverbs 24:26
Truth spoken clearly
is justice served faithfully.
🧠 Why This Matters
Public anger against corruption is justified — but misdirected blame weakens reform.
Lacson’s clarification reframes the issue:
👉 Hold the right people accountable, in the right forum, using the right facts.
Accountability collapses when accuracy is abandoned.
