Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, in the 29th plenary session today, November 18, 2025, shed light on controversies involving alleged budget insertions and supposed commissions linked to the President.

Lacson directly addressed claims made by Congressman Zaldy Co on social media, where Co allegedly spoke about delivering ₱25 billion, representing a so-called 25% commission purportedly meant for the President.

“That I will attest na ‘di totoo. ‘Yun talaga ay absolutely untrue or completely false,” Lacson declared.

He recounted a conversation last Sunday with the office of former Undersecretary Bernardo regarding Co’s viral statements about a ₱100-billion insertion in the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam), which Co believed was instructed by the President.

According to Lacson, Bernardo insisted that the president never gave such orders. Instead, he said certain individuals in Malacañang, not the President nor anyone authorized by him, misrepresented the Chief Executive.

Lacson identified those he said were involved:

“I will name some of them, Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, he name-dropped the President, making Zaldy Co believe na utos ng pangulo na ipasok sa bicam ‘yung insertions na ₱100 billion. Usec. Trygve Olaivar and other personalities…”

Regarding the ₱100 billion figure, Lacson shared Bernardo’s explanation of the breakdown. Of the total amount, ₱81 billion was assigned to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), while ₱29 billion went to other agencies.

Bernardo reportedly told Lacson that ₱52 billion out of the ₱81 billion assigned to DPWH was personally handled by him.

Lacson also quoted Bernardo admitting to delivering money as kickbacks, not to the President, but to Undersecretary Olaivar, supposedly with Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin’s involvement.

Their alleged arrangement, according to Lacson, involved ₱8 billion in kickbacks delivered in at least 10 tranches.

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