Senate Majority Leader Senator Migz Zubiri rejected former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan’s claim that he exercised discretion over a ₱24-billion “leadership fund,” saying senators’ project lists and proposed budget amendments never passed through his office while he was Senate President.
Bonoan told the Sandiganbayan that senators allegedly had allocations of at least ₱500 million, while major committee chairs could receive up to ₱1 billion. He claimed Zubiri had discretion over fund and authority to increase allocations.
“For the record, as Senate President, I never requested, held or handled any list of project requests from senators. I refused to handle any such list,” Zubiri said.
“Walang pong dumaan na proposed budget amendments sa ating tanggapan. Alam ng mga senador yan,” he added, saying requests went through the Senate Committee on Finance.
Official Senate rules give the Finance Committee jurisdiction over government expenditures and public spending matters, supporting Zubiri’s account of where formal amendments were processed.
Former Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Grace Poe described the process in 2025. “Lahat ng senators mayroong individual institutional amendments. So ’yan, sinasubmit ’yan sa secretariat namin,” Poe said of proposed changes during the 19th Congress.
Bonoan described the leadership fund as an ad hoc arrangement that emerged during 2024 budget talks after cuts to DPWH programs. He said proposed projects were conveyed through DPWH officials and underwent agency vetting before possible inclusion in the department’s proposed budget.
Zubiri defended institutional amendments for infrastructure when implementing agencies approve the projects and they are properly carried out without corrupt interference.
“I see nothing wrong with making institutional amendments to support roads, bridges, airports, seaports and other critical infrastructure for far-flung communities,” Zubiri said.
Published reports on Bonoan’s latest testimony have not presented documentary evidence showing Zubiri personally received, held or transmitted the project lists he denies handling. His alleged control over the ₱24-billion fund remains disputed.
