MANILA — The 2026 national budget was crafted with social services in mind, not as a tool for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, House Appropriations Vice Chairperson Alonto Adiong said Thursday.

“Hindi po nagre-revolve sa isang tao ang the way we understand, ang the way we approach our budget. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ang ating senadora ay nagre-revolve ang kanyang mundo sa isang tao. Pero hindi po kami ganoon in the House of Representatives,” (The way we approach the budget does not revolve around one person. I don’t know why the senator’s world revolves so much around one person. But we’re not like that at the House of Representatives) Adiong said, referring to Senator Imee Marcos’ claim that the 2026 budget contains soft pork barrel funds that could be used for Duterte’s impeachment.

The lawmaker emphasized that the primary concern of House members in crafting the budget was improving services for their constituents.

“Yung concern namin sa House of Representatives revolves around our concerns to better our service to our constituency. It revolves around the concerns of the people like the MAIFIP (Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients,) like the TUPAD (Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers,) like the AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations) and all other social services that we can provide to better the services for our constituencies, that’s our concern. Nagre-revolve yan sa concern ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

Duterte had earlier alleged that the planned refiling of an impeachment complaint against her was being used as a “bargaining chip” ahead of the 2026 budget’s passage, a claim that puzzled House lawmakers.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio also said there is no specific item in the 2026 national budget for an impeachment.

“Wala namang specific budget for impeachment. So definitely walang ganoong usapan,” Tinio said in an online interview Wednesday.

“There is no explicit budget for impeachment. That’s absurd. However, the budget is always used to incentivize the majority to support whatever is the initiative of Malacañang,” he added.

Senator Erwin Tulfo, vice chair of the Senate finance committee, also dismissed the allegation. “Ako as vice chair, wala akong nakita na pondo para gamitin [As vice chair of the Senate finance committee, I didn’t see any funds that could be used] to operate against the Vice President for her impeachment,” he said.