MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said former Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez should have accepted invitations to attend Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings to address allegations linking him to the alleged “mangling” of the 2025 national budget.

Lacson, who chairs the committee, said at least two invitations were sent to Romualdez to testify during hearings held in November and January regarding the budget controversy, which has been associated with anomalous flood control projects and other irregularities.

“The Blue Ribbon Committee gave the former speaker at least two chances through official invitations to testify under oath and public scrutiny to what may be his strong argument against allegations of masterminding the ‘mangling beyond recognition’ of the 2025 national budget during the bicameral conference, which he now claims to have been made by only two people – then SP (Senate President Francis) Chiz Escudero and ex Cong and House Appropriations Chairman (Elizaldy) Zaldy Co,” Lacson said in a post on X.

The invitations were sent through the office of Speaker Faustino Dy III as part of inter-parliamentary courtesy, in connection with the panel’s inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood control projects. Romualdez did not attend the hearings conducted on Nov. 14 and Jan. 19.

On Tuesday, Romualdez released a video statement denying involvement in deliberations on the 2025 budget, which has been described as “mangled beyond recognition” and allegedly contained questionable provisions.

He attributed the changes to Francis Escudero and former lawmaker Elizaldy Co, saying he was neither part of the bicameral conference committee nor the “small committee” that made revisions to the General Appropriations Bill after its approval by both chambers of Congress.

Lacson, who has long advocated reforms in the national budgeting process, has pushed for greater transparency, particularly during bicameral conference proceedings.

In August 2025, he expressed support for initiatives led by Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian to require the publication of budget-related documents on government websites, as well as proposals by House appropriations committee chairperson Mikaela Angela Suansing to introduce reforms, including the removal of the “small committee.”