President Marcos does not have aby idea about the so-called Leadership Funds, or lump sums in the budget meant for pork barrel that former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan recently bared, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro maintained.

“I was able to ask that with the President, and he said the usual topic of his conversation with Bonoan is government projects, that it should be based on the need of the locality. But when it comes to the leadership fund, it was never mentioned by the President, and it was also denied by the economic team,” she said.  

Out of context

“This was never mentioned to the President, and it was also denied by the economic team. We also asked the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) directly about this, and there is no such thing as a ‘leadership fund’ in the General Appropriations Act,” she added.

Castro stressed that President Marcos’ order to Secretary Bonoan back then was clear: “Do your job well.”

That’s why, when the President learned of anomalies in DPWH, he ordered an investigation. “Because Secretary Manny Bonoan’s reports were riddled with errors, the President immediately ordered an investigation. The President could not do anything without first having the matter investigated because if there were anomalies committed, everyone who should be held accountable must be held responsible. The President did not neglect the matter,” Castro said.

In his affidavit, Bonoan alleged that the Senate “leadership fund” was created after the President raised serious concern over massive DPWH budget cuts in 2023 and the insertion of thousands of projects being pushed by lawmakers.