DECEMBER 29, 2025 — Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, has firmly rejected accusations that her panel dangled multimillion-peso “incentives” to sway lawmakers during deliberations on the proposed ₱6.7-trillion national budget for 2026.

The allegations were raised by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, who claimed that a supposed staff member from Suansing’s office offered him ₱150 million in “allocables” for projects in his district. Suansing denied the charge, stressing that the budget process is not manipulated by leadership.

“Hindi po ini-impluwensyahan ng House leadership ang sinumang indibidwal na miyembro ng Kamara kung paano bumoto,” Suansing said. 

(The House leadership does not influence any individual member of Congress on how to vote.)

She underscored that the House operates as a collegial body, where each member decides based on conscience and the needs of constituents. 

“We respect each member’s freedom to vote and decide,” Suansing added.

To bolster transparency, Suansing pointed to reforms introduced by the 20th Congress, including the creation of the Budget Amendment and Review Subcommittee (BARSc). The panel, she said, spent an additional 20 hours scrutinizing the General Appropriations Bill before it was brought to plenary. BARSc also reviews proposals from government agencies and civil society groups for possible inclusion in the budget.

The controversy has stirred debate beyond the halls of Congress, striking at the heart of public trust. The national budget directly affects communities — schools, hospitals, roads, and social programs depend on it. Allegations of payoffs, whether proven or not, risk eroding confidence in how billions of pesos are allocated.

As the 2026 budget nears finalization, the public is left to wonder — Are reforms enough to guarantee accountability, or will suspicions of backroom bargaining continue to haunt the process?

In the end, transparency in the nation’s spending plan is not just a matter for politicians, but a demand of the people. The nation’s funds should never be reduced to bargaining chips in politics.

(Image: House of Representatives of the Philippines | Facebook)