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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Sotto: Allegations of 'soft pork' in 2026 budget unfair, baseless

Sotto: Allegations of 'soft pork' in 2026 budget unfair, baseless

Published Jan 9, 2026 12:31 pm  |  Updated Jan 9, 2026 01:43 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III rejected on Friday, January 9 allegations that there's soft pork barrel in the 2026 national budget saying such statements are "unfair and baseless."


Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III rejected on Friday, January 9 allegations that there’s soft pork barrel in the 2026 national budget saying such statements are “unfair and baseless.”

Senate President Vicente
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III (Senate PRIB photo)

Sotto aired his sentiment when asked about Sen. Imee Marcos’ insistence that there is an alleged “presidential pork” that would be possibly used to revive the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

“No, I don’t think so. Her accusations are unfair and baseless. I don’t understand. How will it be dangled? For the congressman? There no such thing already,” Sotto told reporters in an online interview.

“There’s none. We didn’t even mention VP Sara, except the time when we tackled her budget. Some are just being paranoid,” he said.

Marcos, in various interviews earlier this week, raised alarm over the hefty increases in social amelioration programs of the government, claiming these discretionary funds could be used to dangle to pursue the vice president’s ouster.

She identified the following as the sources of “soft pork” in the 2026 national budget:

MAIFIP (Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients) 

AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) 

TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers)

LGSF (Local Government Support Fund)

Marcos also questioned the supposed inclusion of a P10-billion intended to assist farmers and fisherfolk under the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk and Families.”

Senate Finance Committee chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian refuted the allegations, insisting that the bicameral conference committee did its best to ensure that the 2026 budget is “corruption-free” and even removed provisions that would promote political patronage.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, likewise, made the same assertion saying that as vice chairman of the finance panel, he didn’t see any funds in the 2026 budget that could be used to operate against the vice president for her impeachment.

Sotto agreed with his colleagues on the matter. “First of all, we didn’t allow that to happen. Sen. Ping (Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson) laid down a special provision (to prevent any pork), and this was emphasized by the President himself that no politician can meddle on the budget. So how can there be (soft pork)?” Sotto pointed out.

“A pork (barrel) is a lumpsum (fund) to be designated by a legislator and he is bound to meddle and profit from that. How can you classify as pork providing medical assistance in a private hospitals due to the fact there’s no more room in government hospitals.

“The problem is when you’re already nitpicking. But she’s entitled to her wrong opinion, I mean, her own opinion,” the Senate leader said.

Related Tags

Tito Sotto 2026 national budget pork barrel imee marcos VP Sara impeachment trial
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