With the annual Congress holiday break just around the corner, it seems that several individuals who were cited in contempt during previous hearings could remain in detention at the Senate during Christmas and the New Year--perhaps even longer. This was according to Senate President Vicente "Tito"...
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Thursday, Dec. 4, that the Senate is working to resolve the remaining issues with proposed amendments to the 2026 national budget, to keep the timetable on track. In a chance interview, Sotto responded to questions on whether disagreements have...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson clarified that more than P79-billion has likely been lost to ghost flood control projects dating back to 2016, not counting substandard ones. Lacson said that the initial figure of P180-B was an “extrapolation.” Lacson said this was based on...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Wednesday, Dec. 3, that more than P180 billion has likely been lost to ghost flood control projects dating back to 2016, not counting substandard ones. Lacson said he and Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian arrived at this...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson proposed on Tuesday, Dec. 2, a provision in the 2026 budget barring any political involvement in cash aid distribution to prevent politicians from abusing the ayuda (cash aid) distribution. During the period of amendments for the 2026 budget bill,...
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the appropriate remedy for the public to question the prolonged absences of senators is to file an ethics complaint, noting that there is no “no work, no pay” rule for legislators under existing Senate rules or the Constitution. Sotto made the...
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has raised serious concern over the increasing number of road accidents nationwide—particularly those involving motorcycle riders—as he proposed an additional ₱100 million for the implementation of the Philippine Road Safety Action Plan 2023–2028...
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has refuted claims that the Senate—particularly he and Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson—had cut the budgets of congressional districts, calling the accusations “unfounded” and “black propaganda.” Sotto said this on...
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Thursday, Nov. 27, said it was “not okay” that Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been absent from the Senate’s budget deliberations, especially since he is supposed to defend the proposed 2026 budgets of key security agencies. Dela Rosa...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson underscored on Saturday, Nov. 22, that the Senate will not allow the reenactment next year of the 2025 national budget--the same budget that had earlier been described as corrupt to the core. Lacson says this is why the Senate is adopting measures...
Amid persistent criticism that the Office of the Ombudsman’s probe was all talk, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said on Saturday, Nov. 22, that the arrest orders for resigned congressman Zaldy Co and 17 others were proof that those doubts were misplaced. Lacson had this...
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has urged the leadership of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that members of the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG) who escort or provide security to VIPs be given regular lectures and workshops on respect and proper decorum. During the...
