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Marc Jayson Cayabyab - The Philippine Star
May 8, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Rodante Marcoleta has responded to the allegations of his arch rival Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson that he demanded P500 million in so-called allocables during the confirmation hearing of former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan.
During a privilege speech in Wednesday’s plenary session, Marcoleta bristled at the inclusion of his name in Lacson’s own privilege speech the day previous containing the partial flood control inquiry report.
In Lacson’s presentation, a “Cong Marcoleta” was named beside the figure “500” under the slide for “‘Allocables’ and leadership fund.”
Lacson has said this forms part of the handwritten notes of the late Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral about lawmakers’ “allocables,” or requests for budget insertions to accommodate their pet public works projects.
Marcoleta said Lacson’s slide only served to besmirch his reputation by linking him to the flood control mess in retaliation for questioning the Lacson-led Blue Ribbon flood control probe.
“Of all the names dragged in this controversy, some of whom were carefully avoided by our chairman and not mentioned directly even if they were continuously linked by witnesses and sworn statements, my name is forcefully being included in his narrative. This is too obvious,” Marcoleta said in Filipino.
“His attention is now focused on me. Is it because I am the only one who told him to do his job, Mr. President? If the chairman really wants truth and transparency, why are his remarks targeted towards those who criticize him?” he added.
Marcoleta reacted to Lacson’s mention of the alleged “bukulan” in the Commission on Appointments (CA), where the lawmakers were allegedly cheated out of P500-million “allocables” promised by Bonoan to them that instead allegedly went to Marcoleta.
Bonoan allegedly dangled P1.5 billion allocables – later reduced to P500 million – during his November 2022 confirmation hearing to secure his appointment.
Lacson said that Bonoan promised P500 million worth of DPWH projects to a CA member from the House of Representatives contingent, who promised to share it with colleagues but did not.
It turns out Lacson was referring to the then SAGIP party-list representative Marcoleta, chair of the CA public works committee at the time.
Affidavits from PDAF witnesse
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it has received sworn statements from two state witnesses in the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam cases contradicting claims made by lawyer Levito Baligod regarding the alleged “selective prosecution” of personalities linked to the controversy.
In a statement Thursday, the NBI identified the witnesses as Marina Sula and Mary Arlene Baltazar, both under the Department of Justice’s witness protection program in connection with the pork barrel scam cases involving businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.
The affidavits were transmitted to the Office of the NBI director following public statements allegedly made by Baligod claiming he resigned as counsel for whistleblower Benhur Luy in 2014 due to disagreements over the administration’s supposed selective prosecution of politicians implicated in the PDAF scandal.
Currently, Baligod stands as lawyer for the 18 marines who allegedly delivered suitcases containing cash to former and incumbent politicians. The marines claim that the cash were part of flood control funds from former lawmaker Zaldy Co. The NBI is also investigating the claims made by the marines.
In their sworn statements, both Sula and Baltazar disputed the allegations made by Baligod, saying they did not witness any disagreement between the DOJ and the NBI regarding the filing of cases against personalities linked to the scam.
The two witnesses also claimed that Baligod’s services as counsel for Luy and Merlina Suñas were allegedly terminated, contrary to his public statements that he voluntarily resigned over issues involving “selective justice.”
The affidavits further alleged that Baligod supposedly exercised influence in identifying lawmakers to be included in succeeding investigations related to the PDAF scam. – Mark Ernest Villeza
