Senator Panfilo Lacson on Thursday branded as unfair the suggestion of Vice President Sara Duterte that the 2027 budget may be used to pressure senator-judges in her impeachment trial and reward those who vote to convict her.

Lacson said such a sweeping allegation is particularly unwarranted against like-minded lawmakers wo have consistently upheld the integrity of the national budget and fought the temptations of "pork" in all its forms.

"A sweeping statement from no less than the country’s second-highest official is unfair to those of us who have consistently upheld the integrity of the national budget and served as its vanguards," he said.

"That said, in all my years as a senator, I have never succumbed to the allure of pork barrel, in whatever shape and form. On the contrary, I have consistently opposed and fought against it," he added.

On Wednesday, the Vice President cited "allegations" of "cash distribution and political maneuvering" surrounding the proposed 2027 national budget.

In a social media post, she questioned whether the budget was being used to serve the Filipino people, "or has it become a bargaining chip" to pressure senator-judges. Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau