November 24, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — There remains no evidence linking President Marcos or former executive secretary Lucas Bersamin to the alleged facilitation of kickbacks from budget insertions, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson maintained yesterday.
“As of now we have no evidence (against Marcos). In the same manner that there is no evidence that Bersamin is involved. I want to make that clear,” Lacson told radio dzBB.
Lacson issued the statement amid suspicions being raised against Marcos, with some observers noting that because he has intelligence funds, it was “impossible” for him not to have knowledge of what was taking place among Cabinet officials.
Earlier, a wave of resignations prompted by allegations of involvement in the insertions in the 2025 budget and kickbacks hounded Malacañang.
Two undersecretaries – Trygve Olaivar of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Adrian Bersamin of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) – allegedly namedropped the President to make resigned congressman Zaldy Co believe that it was Marcos who ordered insertions in the bicameral conference.
Although the P100 billion in alleged bicameral insertions detailed by resigned Co “is true,” the claim that Marcos ordered the additions in return for kickbacks was “absolutely untrue,” Lacson earlier said.
Lacson explained that any implication on top officials must be supported by direct testimony or documents, not assumptions.
“If (former public works secretary Secretary Manuel) Bonoan for example got caught, returned home, and was issued a warrant of arrest, then later testified, that’s the direct implication to the ES. Then we will show whatever documentary evidence that will strengthen the case if ever one will be filed. That’s what I was saying. We will not rely on standalone info, evidence,” Lacson said, stressing he agrees with the former ES who branded allegations against him as “triple hearsay.”
Lacson also addressed questions on whether the President should have been aware of alleged irregularities through the Office of the President’s intelligence funds.
“That’s reaching too far, because when Erap (Estrada) was president, the intelligence fund wasn’t his alone. He was the one giving to other agencies… if ISAFP (Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines) or the PNP (Philippine National Police) lack intelligence funds, the Office of the President augments their budget, so let’s not blame this on the President,” he said.
Lacson maintained that only evidence could establish whether President Marcos had any role in the budget insertions.