Libanan: House minority kept out of the loop on fund insertions

House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan on Tuesday denied any knowledge of fund insertions in the 2025 budget, saying they were kept out of the loop during the bicameral conference committee deliberations.

In an interview, Libanan said it was former House Appropriations Committee Chair Zaldy Co and former Senate Finance Committee Chair Grace Poe who knew what transpired as they reconciled the conflicting provisions of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill.

"Hindi po natin alam yan dahil ang minority leader is a member of all committees. Pero kung titingnan natin yung usual na nangyayari, at yun ang nangyayari,” he said.

(We don’t know that even if the minority leader is a member of all committees. But if we look at what usually happens, that’s what happened.)

During the bicameral conference committee meetings on the 2025 budget, most of what transpired was ceremonial, he added.

"Nag-open yung BICAM tapos dinesignate yung chairman ng Committee on Appropriations sa House at saka yung chairperson ng Committee on Finance to reconcile the conflicting provisions of both Houses," he said.

(The bicameral conference opened, and the chair of the House Committee on Appropriations and the chair of the Senate Committee on Finance were designated to reconcile the conflicting provisions of both Houses.)

"So yung ganoon lang nila, i-reconcile (That was how they reconciled). Then they report to the Bicam. Napakadami po yan (That report is voluminous)," Libanan said.

Without full knowledge of the fund movements, the House minority simply relied on the bicameral conference’s assurances that the conflicting budget provisions had been reconciled, the lawmaker said.

"Pag in-assure nila na reconciled, na binigyan kami ng summary ng conflicting provision, yun po ay aprubahan na. Hindi po kami kasali doon sa mga insertion. Wala kaming kaalam-alam doon. Ako personally.

(Once they assure us that the conflicting provisions have been reconciled and provide us with a summary, we approve it. We are not involved in the insertions and have no knowledge of them—personally, I don’t.)

"And please remember, this is the budget of the majority. Tayo po ay (We are a) representative of the minority," Libanan added.

In a three-part series of videotaped statements, Co alleged that he was ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., through then-Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, to insert P100 billion worth of projects in the proposed budget during the bicameral conference committee deliberations.

Pangandaman, along with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, resigned from their posts on Monday after they were implicated in the alleged fund anomalies.

Libanan lauded the move of the two former high-profile officials, who quit out of delicadeza despite the absence of solid evidence to back Co’s allegations.

"Ina-appreciate po natin ito, out of sinabi nila delicadeza. Dapat ganoon ang mga opisyal natin. Kahit hindi pa under oath yung sinabi ni Zaldy Co, to erase any cloud of doubt and willingness to face whatever accusations against them are. Kaya mas maganda na yun," Libanan said.

(We appreciate this, as they acted out of delicadeza. Our officials should do the same. Even if Zaldy Co’s statement was not given under oath, it helps clear any cloud of doubt and shows their willingness to face any accusations. That’s why this is better.)

He also welcomed the appointment of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto as Executive Secretary, and Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go as the new Finance Secretary.

"Saka yung capability ni Secretary Ralph Recto bilang Executive Secretary, ay nakatrabaho na rin po natin si Secretary Ralph Recto at sa palagay ko ay magiging mabuting executive secretary din po siya," he said.
(We have already worked with Secretary Recto and I believe he will also be an effective executive secretary.)

"At yung kay Secretary Frederic Go bilang Secretary of Finance, nakikita din naman natin yung kanyang track record. So tayo po'y umaasa na mas gaganda pa ang ating bansa," Libanan added.
(We can see Go’s track record. So we are hopeful that our country will continue to improve.)

Libanan also expressed doubt over Co’s claim that former House Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez warned him against returning to the country.

"Magkasing-edad kami ni former Speaker Martin Romualdez. At nakita ko siya very friendly, ang bait, na sa tingin ko po ay wala sa character niya na mag-threaten na papatay.

(Former Speaker Martin Romualdez and I are of the same age. I have seen him as very friendly and kind, and I don’t think it’s in his character to make a threat to kill.)

"Medyo hindi ako makapaniwala na sabihin ni Speaker Martin yung threat niya kay (former) Congressman Zaldy Co," Libanan said.

(I find it hard to believe that Speaker Martin would make such a threat to (former) Congressman Zaldy Co.)

When asked why Co would make such an allegation against Romualdez, Libanan said:

"Baka nagja-justify siya na hindi siya umuwi dito (He may be trying to find a justification so that he will no longer return).

"Pero unfair naman yung kay Speaker Martin (But to be the subject of such allegations is unfair to Speaker Martin),"* Libanan said.

He assured the public that the minority bloc continues to focus on work amid the web of allegations against several members of the House of Representatives.

"Ang minority bloc ay tuloy-tuloy ang trabaho na binigay sa amin ng Kongreso. Kaya po ay narito po kami palagi araw-araw at ginagampanan po namin at umaasa kami na magiging maayos itong ating bansa. Iisa lang po ang bansa natin," he said.

(The minority bloc continues to carry out the work assigned to us by Congress. That’s why we are here every day, fulfilling our duties, and we hope that our country will continue to do well. We have only one nation.)

Libanan is hoping that the allegations will be properly investigated and those guilty will be held accountable.

"Kaya tungkol naman sa mga allegations na mga nangyayari ngayon ay umaasa din po tayo na magkaroon ng credible investigation at managot ang dapat managot sa mga anomalyang ito," Libanan said.

(We also hope there will be a credible investigation and that those responsible for these anomalies will be held accountable.)—MCG, GMA Integrated News