Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson flagged P2.5 billion in “allocables” linked to Senator Imee Marcos in the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), questioning her credibility in attacking alleged “pork” in the 2026 budget.
Citing documents from the camp of late DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, Lacson said Marcos’ allocables were inserted during the bicameral conference and ended up in the 2025 GAA, with part of them already released.
He also noted the presidential sister was a member of the Senate bicam panel but stayed silent on “pork” issues at the time.
“She makes a lot of noise criticizing the 2026 budget for having ‘pork’ but she had ‘pork’ in the budget, at least in the 2025 GAA. So she has no moral ascendancy to criticize,” Lacson said, adding that Marcos even attended aid distributions last year.
The former PNP chief also slammed Marcos for criticizing the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, saying her attacks were baseless since she never attended the hearings he chaired. He denied claims of gagging senators or shielding personalities in the flood control probe.
“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” he said.
Lacson declined to comment on claims that budget pork could be used to influence a possible impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, citing the Senate’s role as potential impeachment court.IMT
