Sen. Jinggoy Estrada Not Part of Bicam
JINGGOY ESTRADA – The Minority Senator withdrew from being a member of the bicameral conference committee amid the 2026 budget process.
The Senate and the House of Representatives are currently on the process of passing the 2026 national budget. The upper chamber recently passed the fund for next year in its third and final reading.
Senate President Tito Sotto previously assured that he will not allow last-minute budget insertions into the 2026 national fund. Previously, he also vowed that he and House Speaker Bojie Dy will make sure that they will come up with a cleaner budget for next year.
The remarks of the Senate Chief came amid massive corruption issues in the country. Countless Filipinos were out in the streets last September 21 and November 30 for the “Trillion Peso March” to protest against corruption.
Thousands of people called for accountability from the government amid several government officials being tagged in the flood control mess. Several congressmen and some senators were implicated in the budget insertion issue and the alleged “kickback” system. The flood control investigation led by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is currently ongoing.
Recently, amid the budget process and the investigation of the supposed massive corruption in the government, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada withdrew from being part of the bicameral conference committee. Based on a post of News5 on social media, the Senator did not specify his reason for backing out.
The withdrawal of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada from being a member of the bicameral conference committee was announced by Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri. The chairperson and vice chairperson of the Senate Finance sub-committee are appointed as bicam members.
Based on the post, it is the job of the bicam to resolve the differences among the provisions in the proposed budget for 2026. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada will supposedly work with the following senators if he did not back out:
- Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian
- Sen. JV Ejercito
- Sen. Loren Legarda
- Sen. Kiko Pangilinan
- Sen. Mark Villar
- Sen. Pia Cayetano
- Sen. Erwin Tulfo
- Sen. Camille Villar
- Sen. Bato dela Rosa
- Sen. Bong Go
- Sen. Imee Marcos
Amid the budget insertion issue in the country, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that the alleged huge budget insertion of Ilocos Norte Cong. Sandro Marcos is supposedly true and not based on hearsay.