PGMN Anchor Atty. Bernice Piñol-Rodriguez has launched Season 2 of the widely followed “The Hey Attorney Podcast,” opening the new season from her newly established studio with a detailed discussion of the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling declaring parts of the 2024 and 2025 national budgets unconstitutional, as well as provisions of the 2026 national budget passed under the speakership of now-jailed congressman Martin Romualdez.
In the episode titled “Budget Insertions, Unconstitutional! Pero Sino ang Mananagot?”, Rodriguez breaks down the ruling that struck down the 2024 and 2025 national budgets over congressional increases while also invalidating specific provisions of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The Season 2 premiere comes after the budgets struck down by the Supreme Court had faced criticism from lawmakers across political factions. Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab called the 2025 budget the “most corrupt budget ever passed in the history of Congress,” while Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco highlighted billions in congressional insertions and practices known as “parking” and “sagasa,” which involve placing funds in other lawmakers’ districts. Former Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga also publicly challenged former Romualdez over allegations of corruption within Congress.
With more than 22,100 subscribers, the podcast has gained traction through episodes covering impeachment proceedings, legal cases such as the qualified theft case involving Lakam Chiu and her sister Kim Chiu, child support involving Patrick Garcia and Jennylyn Mercado, and the controversial comments made by Machong Chismisan hosts about Josh Aquino, along with bar exam reviews and everyday legal terms encountered by Filipinos.
Since joining PGMN in Feb. 2026, Rodriguez has also hosted a show bearing the same name, where she has discussed major national controversies through The Hey Attorney Show, including Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s International Criminal Court case, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s legal challenges and flood-control corruption.
Her programs have featured former congressman and PGMN Anchor Atty. Neil Abayon and Atty. Israelito Torreon, with discussions focusing on constitutional questions and legal arguments surrounding high-profile political cases.
Near the end of her Season 2 premiere, Rodriguez expressed gratitude to her family, production team and fellow lawyers who helped put together her new studio before offering a special acknowledgment to PGMN.
“Also, thank you to my PGMN family for the support, to (PGMN Founder and CEO) Franco Mabanta for teaching me how YouTube works,” she said.
Rodriguez also thanked her expanding audience and reiterated her goal of making legal discussions easier for Filipinos to understand while encouraging awareness of their rights and government accountability.
Romualdez is facing a ₱7.44-billion plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman under Boying Remulla, involving kickbacks from government projects funded through the 2022 to 2025 national budgets. He was arrested in September and has denied wrongdoing.
On the question of accountability, Rodriguez discusses the doctrine of operative fact, potential recovery of public funds, graft and corruption cases, presidential immunity and whether the controversy could lead to impeachment proceedings. She stresses that a declaration that budget provisions are unconstitutional does not automatically amount to criminal liability.
Outside the podcast, Rodriguez serves as founder and managing partner of Piñol Law, a Makati-based firm focused on intellectual property and trademark protection. She is also an accredited mediator with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
