Senator Sherwin Gatchalian disclosed that the impeachment bid against Vice President Sara Duterte was not discussed during the deliberations on the 2026 national budget.

Gatchalian said this in response to the claim of Senator Imee Marcos that the 2026 budget was chopped into pieces to initiate fresh impeachment plans against Duterte.

Gatchalian said in a press conference, in my case, hindi namin napag-usapan ‘yung impeachment, hindi namin napag-usapan ‘yung political side of things. Ang pinag-usapan lang namin is ‘yung budgetary requirements, as well as ‘yung impact to the people.”

Marcos specifically cited the budget for foreign-assisted projects of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), including the Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway, which was reduced from P121.5 billion to P49.2 billion.

She also lamented the cuts in the budget for the foreign-assisted projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), from P70 billion to P17 billion.

Marcos said that in return, the budget for the financial assistance programs of the government, as well as farm-to-market roads and other projects, were increased.