Senate confirms P100B budget insertions, kickbacks alleged

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson confirmed P100 billion was inserted into the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

He identified Department of Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar and Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Carlos Bersamin as the individuals who allegedly invoked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s name to facilitate budget insertions.

Lacson stated that Olaivar and Bersamin worked as a syndicate to insert up to P100 billion, from which they allegedly derived kickbacks.

Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo personally handled P52 billion as kickbacks from the P100 billion inserted into the budget.

Of the P100 billion inserted, P81 billion was for the Department of Public Works and Highways, while P19 billion was for other agencies.

Olaivar and Bersamin allegedly invoked Marcos' authority to push for these insertions and manage the financial transactions.

Both Olaivar and Bersamin have resigned following the resignations of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

Lacson asserted that former Congressman Zaldy Co's claim of delivering P25 billion as a 25 percent commission for the President is false.