Sen. Panfilo Lacson defended his integrity after former public works undersecretary Roberto Bernardo testified that he was the only lawmaker who refused to receive kickbacks from government infrastructure projects.
Lacson denied ever accepting bribes, lobby money, or funds from government projects, saying his integrity remains intact despite criticism.
His statement came amid questions from Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano over the increase in his declared net worth, which Lacson attributed to legitimate earnings from 2022 to 2025.
The senator also urged the public to scrutinize the proposed 2027 national budget after watchdog groups flagged nearly 7,000 questionable projects worth P190 billion.
He further called for greater transparency in bicameral budget deliberations, suggesting that discussions remain audible to the public even during session breaks.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 31, 2026
