Can we trust them with our money?

Congress is rushing the passage of the national budget for 2026 to avoid a reenactment of the current outlay. Amid the scandal that has erupted over large-scale corruption in the budget process and public works projects, both Malacafiang and Congress have promised reforms.

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The complexity of the budget process allowed crooks to design the theft of billions in public funds from the annual national outlay, with taxpayers largely unaware of the institutionalized thievery.

Those who understand the process pointed out the ways by which billions have been diverted to the pockets of thieves during congressional deliberations on the General Appropriations Act.

The 2025 GAA has been described by critics as “the most corrupt budget ever,” with precious public funds ending up as kickbacks and the nation saddled with defective, substandard and even nonexistent public works projects. Budget insertions were abused by lawmakers for personal gain, and secrecy in the budget deliberations allowed even more thievery to be carried out.