Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson has made startling revelations about P100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 General Appropriations Act while simultaneously clearing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of any involvement or benefit from the controversial allocations.
Senator's Plenary Revelation
During the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed national budget for 2026 held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Lacson confirmed the existence of massive insertions totaling P100 billion in the previous year's budget. The senator specifically addressed allegations made by former Ako-Bicol partylist representative Elizalde "Zaldy" Co regarding presidential involvement.
"What Zaldy Co is claiming - that he delivered P25 billion representing the alleged 25 percent commission for the President - I can attest that this is not true. That is absolutely untrue or completely false," Lacson stated emphatically during the proceedings.
The Real Culprits Behind Misrepresentation
According to Lacson's testimony, the scheme involved two government officials who allegedly misrepresented the President's authority. Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Carlos Bersamin and Education Undersecretary Trygve Olaivar were identified as the individuals who made it appear to Co that the P100 billion insertions were ordered by President Marcos Jr.
The senator revealed that he obtained this information from former Department of Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo, who previously testified before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating anomalous flood control projects linked to the insertions.
"I learned from former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo that there were people in Malacañang - not the President, and not authorized by the President - who misrepresented him," Lacson explained.
Detailed Breakdown of Fund Allocation
The investigation uncovered that of the total P100 billion insertions, a staggering P81 billion was allocated to the DPWH, while the remaining funds were distributed to other government agencies. Bernardo himself handled P52 billion out of the DPWH's P81 billion allocation.
Lacson provided chilling details about the alleged kickback delivery system, describing how the officials operated. "Their arrangement was that each of them had an armored van. They would park at the basement of Diamond Hotel, and a van driven by Olaivar - possibly with Bersamin - would arrive. Their armored van would be empty. They would park it, then drive away the other van filled with money, ranging from P800 million to P2 billion," the senator revealed.
According to Bernardo's testimony, the total amount delivered as kickbacks reached P8 billion in at least 10 separate deliveries, with the money going to Olaivar and potentially involving Bersamin, rather than the President.
Consequences and Resignations
The scandal has already triggered significant political consequences. Following the allegations, both the Bersamin family members and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman tendered their courtesy resignations, which President Marcos accepted on Monday, November 17, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Department of Education confirmed on November 18 that Olaivar had already submitted his resignation to the President. Lacson also disclosed that he had personally handed over Bernardo's handwritten narration of events to President Marcos.
The senator further revealed that Bernardo had been prevented by Olaivar from disclosing details about the P52 billion fund allocation to then DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, indicating a deliberate attempt to keep the transactions concealed from higher authorities.
