Sara Duterte impeachment not part of 2026 budget talks — Win Gatchalian

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Tuesday that the impeachment bid against Vice President Sara Duterte was not discussed during the deliberations on the 2026 national budget. 

Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, said this in response to the claim of Senator Imee Marcos that the 2026 budget was chopped into pieces to initiate fresh impeachment plans against Duterte. 

"Kanya kanyang tao, kanya kanyang theory 'no? (Every person has his or her theory). So, I cannot comment on her theory," Gatchalian said in a press conference.

"Well, in my case, hindi namin napag-usapan 'yung impeachment, hindi namin napag-usapan 'yung political side of things. Ang pinag-usapan lang namin is 'yung budgetary requirements, as well as 'yung impact to the people," he added. 

(Well in my case, we did not discuss the impeachment, we did not discuss the political side of things. We only discussed the budgetary requirements, as well as its impact on the people.) 

In a video posted on her Facebook page, Marcos raised concerns about the budget cuts on some projects and the increased funding for others. 

Marcos specifically cited the budget for foreign-assisted projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), including the Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway, which was reduced from P121.5 billion to P49.2 billion.

She also lamented the cuts in the budget for the foreign-assisted projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), from P70 billion to P17 billion. 

Marcos said that in return, the budget for the financial assistance programs of the government, as well as farm-to-market roads and other projects, were increased. 

"Ginigiling [ang budget] para pagulungin ang impeachment ni Inday," the senator said, referring to the Vice President. 

(The budget is being chopped to initiate the impeachment of Inday.) 

Gatchalian, on the other hand, acknowledged that people may have different opinions regarding the 2026 budget, especially that the entire process was open to the public. 

Nonetheless, he stood firm that the 2026 budget was "corruption-free." 

"Kanya kanyang pananaw kung ito ay maayos, ito ay hindi maayos, but that is a policy issue. Puwede tayong mag-debate sa policy issue ng buong araw o buong linggo, pero ang importante, walang debate sa korapsyon. Dahil itong budget na ito, sinigurado namin na corruption-free at hindi puwedeng maabuso," he added. 

(People have different opinions if the budget was good or not, but that is a policy issue. We can debate the policy issue all day or all week, but the important thing is, there is no debate on corruption. Because we ensured that this budget is corruption-free and cannot be abused.)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Monday signed into law the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which outlines the P6.793-trillion budget for the current fiscal year.

The President also vetoed nearly P92.5-billion worth of line items under the unprogrammed appropriations under the 2026 GAA. He said the unprogrammed funds this year were reduced to its "absolute bare minimum," or at the level lowest since 2019, to ensure that public funds are expended in clear service of national interests. — VDV, GMA Integrated News