Senate to probe Co's claim of P100-B budget insertions

The Senate will look into former congressman Zaldy Co's allegations that around P100 billion worth of projects were inserted into the proposed 2025 national budget, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said on Sunday.

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An estimated 550,000 individuals join the protest rally organized by the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo at Quirino Grandstand. The three-day rally calls for "transparency and a better democracy" amid the flood control scandal. Edd Gumban, Philippine Star News Service

(Edd Gumban, Philippine Star News Service)

Gatchalian, who served as vice chair of the Senate finance committee last year, stressed that he was not privy to deliberations on the 2025 budget. He said he has begun gathering documents to determine whether the supposed insertions took place.

"Actually, hindi kasi ako privy doon sa budget last time. So, hindi ko talaga alam kung ano yung naging takbo. Pero ganun pa man, tinitignan ko rin. Kumukuha ako ng documents, iniimbestigahan ko rin. Pero in terms of detail, physically, wala kasi ako doon," Gatchalian told DZBB, noting that he could not draw conclusions without reviewing the facts.

"I have to investigate. Mahirap magkomento ahead of time dahil hindi ko pa talaga ngang naupuan at tignan yung mga detalye.

I have to investigate kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari," he added.