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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Jinggoy Estrada withdraws as member of bicam on 2026 national budget

Jinggoy Estrada withdraws as member of bicam on 2026 national budget

Published Dec 9, 2025 09:42 pm  |  Updated Dec 10, 2025 12:44 am

At A Glance

  • Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri announced this after the Senate approved a resolution adjusting Congress' legislative calendar to accommodate the passage of the 2026 national budget before the end of December.

Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada withdrew as a member of the bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2026 national budget.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada (Mark Balmores/MB)
Senator Jinggoy Estrada (Mark Balmores/MB)
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri announced this after the Senate approved a resolution adjusting Congress’ legislative calendar to accommodate the passage of the 2026 national budget before the end of December.
Estrada was designated earlier by the Senate as one of the members of the bicameral conference committee that would thresh out the differing provisions in the Senate and the House of Representatives’ version of the 2026 national budget.
Zubiri read the letter of request submitted by Estrada during the Senate plenary session on Tuesday, December 9, saying that the latter “asked to be withdrawn as a member of the bicam.”
“I believe that he is withdrawing his position in the bicam (bicameral conference committee) for the body to consider,” Zubiri said.
Zubiri clarified then that the Senate’s decision to designate Estrada as one of the members of the bicameral conference committee is because it is automatically given to the Senate Finance Committee chairperson and vice chairpersons of its subcommittees.
“May we just put on record, that those members are the vice chairmen and chairwomen of the different committees or subcommittees that handled the budget, Mr. President,” he said in response to Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s query if he is accepting Estrada’s request.
“It was not a choice by anyone of us, it’s not because of special privilege. All the members that were listed there were sub-committee chairmen or vice chairmen,” the majority leader explained.
Sotto, then, moved to approve Estrada’s request, and withdrew his designation in the bicameral conference committee.
Earlier, Estrada was among the incumbent senators who were implicated in the alleged kickback scheme involving alleged “ghost” or non-existent flood control projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Among those also designated to be part of the bicameral conference committee on the 2026 national budget is Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa who has not reported for work in the Senate since November 10, after receiving reports that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant against him.
During the plenary deliberations on the budget, Dela Rosa was unable to personally defend the budget of the Department of National Defense (DND), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and other agencies that are under his chairmanship.

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Jinggoy Estrada Senate 2026 national budget bicameral conference committee
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