SP Sotto denies slashing budgets for congressional districts

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Thursday denied the supposed claims of certain House members that the proposed 2026 budget for their congressional districts were being reduced in the upper chamber.

During the plenary debates on the 2026 national budget, Sotto said several members of the House of Representatives called his political officer, expressing concerns about alleged adjustments in their districts' budget.

"They are anxious in saying that the budget for their districts are being slashed here in the Senate, specifically by Senator [Panfilo] Lacson and myself," he said. 

The Senate President dismissed such statements as "black propaganda."

"This is unfounded. We have not touched the budget of the districts. Our Finance chairman can confirm this," Sotto said. 

"'Yung mga sinasabing kami ni Senator Lacson kinut naming lahat 'yung mga budget daw nila, 'yan po ay maliwanag na black propaganda po 'yan. Just for the record," he added. 

(What they are saying is that Senator Lacson and I cut their budgets. That is clearly black propaganda. Just for the record.) 

Sotto suggested that House members, particularly district representatives, discuss their apprehensions with the House Appropriations Committee chairperson, as he maintained that the Senate had no hand in the supposed budget cuts in congressional districts. 

"There is nothing happening here. Wala kaming ini-i-slash or ginagalaw sa mga districts ng [General Appropriations Bill]. As a matter of fact, we have not touched anything yet. These are all period of interpellation," he said.

(There is nothing happening here. We didn't slash or adjust the budget of the districts under the General Appropriations Bill. As a matter of fact, we have not touched anything yet. These are all period of interpellation.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News