ILOILO CITY — Far from denying public suspicions, Ilonggo lawmakers confronted head-on allegations of budget “insertions” in infrastructure allocations from 2023 to 2025, following a recent Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) report that flagged billions of pesos worth of projects secured across Iloilo’s districts.

According to PCIJ data, former 5th District congressman Raul “Boboy” Tupas topped the list with P4.3 billion, including about P1 billion in allocable funds per year. Tupas insisted that every peso can be accounted for.

“All projects are visible in the 5th District, and every one of them has receipts,” he said, adding that the figures reflect how often he visited far-flung barangays where residents requested roads, bridges, flood control, and other basic facilities.

“I worked to bring home funds because a congressman who brings too little to his district is failing his people,” he stressed.

3rd District Congressman Lorenz Defensor, whose district received P4.04 billion, or roughly P1.3 billion per year, echoed the sentiment. He maintained that his projects were legitimate, fully implemented, and free from kickbacks.

“I’m confident there are no commissions and no ghost projects,” Defensor said. “In fact, anyone may inspect our flood control projects. I opened the doors of the DPWH—I have nothing to hide. These are barangay-requested, fully implemented, and not substandard.”

Defensor noted that most 2025 projects for the 3rd District are concentrated in Pototan, Calinog, Cabatuan, and Maasin.

He is also preparing an environmental clearance–dependent flood control and watershed restoration initiative in Maasin, in collaboration with the architect behind the Iloilo Esplanade.

For 2026, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to pause flood control projects, Defensor said he realigned P149 million toward new Women and Children’s and Pediatric buildings at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan.

4th District Congressman Ferjenel Biron likewise issued a clarification, rejecting claims that the P1.38 billion allocated for his district in the 2025 national budget was an “insertion.”

“That amount is part of our regular allocation, not an insertion,” Biron stressed. He added that DPWH validations certified the 4th District as having no substandard or ghost projects.

First District Congresswoman Janette Garin also cited a certification from the DPWH–Iloilo 1st District Engineering Office clearing her of alleged phantom projects listed on the government’s Sumbong sa Pangulo website.

DPWH Construction Section chief Engr. Carlo John Leysa stated in a letter to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan: “All of the above-mentioned projects have been duly completed in accordance with their respective contracts… these projects are not ghost projects.”

The website had flagged 11 projects in the 1st District, including shoreline protection and flood control structures in Oton, Guimbal, Tigbauan, and Miag-ao, but Leysa insisted that all were fully completed in line with contract specifications.

As of press time, former 2nd District congressman Michael Gorriceta has yet to issue a statement on the PCIJ findings.