Senate eases rules, lets Escudero directly ask DPWH chief in budget hearing

The Senate on Tuesday night set aside its rules and allowed Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to directly ask questions to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon during the plenary deliberations on the DPWH’s budget.

According to Raffy Tima’s report in “24 Oras” on Wednesday, the rules of the Senate and the House of Representatives state that the designated legislative sponsor of an agency’s budget responds to questions raised by lawmakers. 

Escudero’s request to ask Dizon directly was granted to allow the DPWH Secretary to respond to queries himself, instead of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the budget’s sponsor.

“May I ask three questions directly to the Secretary? Because I believe only he can answer given that only he has personal knowledge about the questions I will be asking,” the Escudero asked.

The motion was approved by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. 

Most of Escudero’s questions were about the filing of a case against former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and the recommendation to lodge a plunder case against Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“May naramdaman po ba kayong pangamba o pagdadalawang isip kaugnay sa ginawa po ninyong paghahain ng kasong ito?” Escudero asked. 

(Did you feel any fear or hesitation regarding your filing of this case?)

In response, Dizon said: “Wala po Mr. President, wala po. In fact sa lahat ng aking pakikipag usap sa Pangulo, consistent po siya sa kaniyang sinasabi na kung saan po ang ebidensya doon po tayo pupunta, kahit sino pa po ang maisama.”

(None, Mr. President, none. In fact, in all my conversations with the President, he has been consistent in saying that wherever the evidence points, that is where we will go, no matter who is involved.) 

In the end, Escudero expressed his satisfaction with these actions.

“Alam kong hindi naging madali ang desisyon ito para sa Pangulong Marcos nang malaman niyang posibleng sangkot ang kaniyang pinsan dito sa isyung ito. Subalit Ginoong Pangulo, nais ko pa ring sabihin na binabati ko ang sigasig ng Pangulo na panagutin ang mga dapat managot,” the senator said. 

(I know this decision was not easy for President Marcos when he learned that his cousin might be involved in this issue. But, Mr. President, I still want to say that I commend the President’s commitment to hold them to account.)

Meanwhile in his interpellation, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said there still seemed to be similar projects and funds allocated under two different DPWH programs.

Although the agency reportedly organized the list, a project with the same title and cost was supposedly found both under the SIPAG Program and the Basic Infrastructure Program.

“Ano plano natin sa 2026, i-collapse na lang natin ito? Kasi confusing eh. Maybe this is really designed to confuse e, hindi ba?” said Lacson. 

(What is our plan for 2026, should we just collapse this [program]? Because it’s confusing. Maybe this is really designed to confuse, isn't it?) 

“Itong SIPAG and BIP, talaga hong confusing ho ito kasi if you look at the sub-program and even the projects, wala hong pinagkaiba e, parang ginagawang, actually confusing ho talaga at aayusin na po ito ng DPWH,” Gatchalian responded.

(The SIPAG and BIP, they are truly confusing because if you look at the sub-programs and even the projects, there is no difference. Actually, it is truly confusing and the DPWH will fix this.) — Vince Angelo Ferreras/JMA, GMA Integrated News