Budget bicam first-timer Negros Oriental 3rd district Rep. Javier Miguel "Javi" Benitez trolled the Senate contingent on Monday night, Dec. 15 after they skipped the third day of the all-important hearings on the P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) for 2026.

In a Facebook post, the 31-year-old uploaded a photo of his vantage point of the senators' empty seats.

Benitez wrote "Wer na u? D2 na me (Where are you? I'm here)," as if to underscore the House team's presence and the Senate team's absence.

"Day 3 of the inaugural, live-streamed, open Bicameral Conference. The House panel is present. The Senate seats are empty," he said.

Benitez, a neophyte in the lower chamber this 20th Congress, went on to insinuate that the GAB--the most important piece of legislation that's passed annually--was being held "hostage".

"We should not hold hostage a national budget that carries the largest education allocation in our history, at around 4 percent of GDP, aligned with global best-practice standards, restores Project NOAH after years of being unfunded, and supports many other critical programs for our people," he said.

The Visayan stressed that time was "running out", as Congress continued to aim for a Dec. 22 ratification of the budget measure.

"We cannot afford a reenactment of the 2025 budget, which we all know is problematic and harmful to both our economy and our citizens.

"Yes, there are disagreements. But this is precisely the forum where we resolve them, openly and constructively. Being absent does not solve anything. What we need is the courage to show up and the courage to finish," he explained.

"The Filipino people are waiting. The work is here. All that is left is for us to show up and finish it. ????????????????," he added, as he took another shot at the absent conferees.