Senate to focus on 2026 budget amid ICI case row; Romualdez meet eyed

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

“I don’t look at it. I concentrate on my work as Senate President,” Sotto said in an interview when asked about the ICI’s findings. He said the Senate would not be demoralized by the issue, emphasizing that lawmakers would continue performing their duties. (Photo: Senate of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The Senate will remain focused on its legislative work, particularly the passage of the 2026 national budget, despite the recommendation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to file cases against Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, said Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday.

“I don’t look at it. I concentrate on my work as Senate President,” Sotto said in an interview when asked about the ICI’s findings.

He said the Senate would not be demoralized by the issue, emphasizing that lawmakers would continue performing their duties.

“Hindi, basta’t ika nga nagtatrabaho kami. Gagawin namin ang trabaho namin (No, as long as we’re doing our work, we’ll keep doing it). The single most important piece of legislation that we must pass is the budget. We need to pass a 2026 clean budget under my watch as far as the Senate is concerned. That is my primary objective now,” he said.

Sotto said the controversy should not “stymie the work of the Senate, especially the work of the Senate President’s office.”

He assured that in case the situation escalates to the issuance of warrants of arrest, the chamber would handle it in accordance with the law.

“We’ll cross the bridge when we get there. Basta there are legal means, there are ways, laws, and legal ways that we should handle things. Everything should be by the book or by the law (We’ll cross the bridge when we get there. There are legal means, laws, and proper procedures that we must follow. Everything should be done by the book),” he said.

Meeting with Romualdez

Sotto confirmed that he arranged a meeting with former House Speaker Martin Romualdez within the next few days, upon the reminder of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson.

“Well, nakapagpa-setup na ako ng meeting. It might be later or tomorrow. Basta within the next few days we will be able to talk (I’ve already arranged the meeting. It might be later today or tomorrow. We’ll be able to talk within the next few days),” he said.

The Senate chief said the purpose of the meeting is to discuss matters related to the upcoming Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, tentatively set for Nov. 14, which may invite Romualdez and former Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who was House Appropriations Committee chairperson.

“To talk about the Blue Ribbon hearing because ‘yun ‘yung possibility na Senator Lacson is thinking of inviting Zaldy Co and former speaker Martin [Romualdez] (We’ll discuss the Blue Ribbon hearing since Senator Lacson is considering inviting Zaldy Co and former Speaker Martin Romualdez),” he said.

Sotto clarified that there is no confirmed appearance from Romualdez yet.

“Wala pa. Medyo matagal-tagal na kaming hindi nagkakausap eh except for his communication that we might have to meet very soon (Not yet. It’s been quite some time since we last spoke, except for his message that we might have to meet soon),” he said.

He said the meeting aims to formalize the invitation to Romualdez.

“Para maimbita, ma-formalize ‘yung imbitasyon. Pero wala pa naman eh. Wala pang malinaw basta’t merong mga initiative para makausap siya para maimbita (It’s to extend and formalize the invitation. Nothing’s final yet, but there are ongoing efforts to reach out and invite him),” he said.

The Senate has yet to finalize the Nov. 14 schedule for the next Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the alleged irregularities in the government’s flood control projects.