THE UNTOLD STORY OF PBBM’S ₱500 MILLION SUPPORT FOR MAYOR LENI’S NAGA CITY COLISEUM
I got curious why Mayor Leni Robredo thanked Senator Kiko Pangilinan this morning on Facebook regarding the Naga Coliseum… so I asked around and here’s what I found out.
When both Mayor Leni and Senator Kiko won in 2025, she requested if he could look into ways to fund the Naga Coliseum through the national budget.
But then the flood control scandal broke – insertions and budget requests were negatively perceived and politicians didn’t want to be associated with “requesting” a specific item in the budget.
Kiko could not insert and thus grant Leni’s request in the 2026 GAA.
But still, Senator Kiko still looked for ways to make it happen.
After the 2026 GAA was approved, he found out that there was a source of funding that was big and could meet the needs of the Naga Coliseum.
Kiko’s office then asked DBM if funding the rehabilitation of the Naga Coliseum falls under the guidelines and criteria of the Department.
DBM said yes.
The new Executive Secretary said yes.
And so, Senator Kiko went to Naga City personally to tell Mayor Leni the good news – her request can/will be granted without Kiko even having to make an “insertion.”
A week or so after their meeting, Senator Kiko went to Malacañang to secure the funding and approval. And secure it from ES Ralph Recto, he did.
And the rest is history – BBM went to Naga and handed over the SARO or release order for the ₱500 Million to Mayor Leni.
And of course, BBM showed off his pink socks. 👊
Walang kulay ang gutom… at walang kulay ang serbisyo publiko? 💖
#LeniRobredo
#KikoPangilinan
P.S. Credits to my tweety bird sources from Naga, the Senate, and Malacañang.
Tio Moreno, Sass Sassot, Manny Lopez et al.
Alam ko na alam ninyong ginagago ninyo ang mga vulnerable na mga Pilipino. Di ko alam kung dahil sa pera o pati kayo naniniwala na sa mga propaganda ninyo.
In your death bed I hope you’ll realize how much you have damaged our country.
Tio Moreno, Sass Sassot, Manny Lopez et al.
Alam ko na alam ninyong ginagago ninyo ang mga vulnerable na mga Pilipino. Di ko alam kung dahil sa pera o pati kayo naniniwala na sa mga propaganda ninyo.
In your death bed I hope you’ll realize how much you have damaged our country.
grabe totoo pala yung mom guilt. may budget naman pero i cant buy myself new clothes, shoes, skincare and anything pampaganda 😭 pagiisipan ko pa muna ng ilang beses 🥺
Anthony Taberna bristles and is hurt by the commentaries and criticism of lawyers and journalists like Marites Vitug, Atty. Race, and Atty. Wilfredo Garrido.
He plays victim by portraying his critics as learned, educated, at matatalino but allegedly bullying him.
1. Marites Vitug
– Taberna asks if Vitug if she has a monopoly on deciding who is a legitimate journalist.
– He points to Arnold Clavio as a fellow journalist who has an endorsement to rebut Vitug’s criticism of “journalists” as not legit if they have endorsements (not sure if I caught this correctly since pinasada lang niya).
– He calls out Vitug as fake news for saying he has a PR company.
2. Atty. Race
– Taberna wonders bakit galit na galit sa kanya ang mga kakampink at nilabas pa yung endorsement niy with Stronghold Insurace eh 1-year lang duration nun and he jokes na dapat i-renew daw siya ngayon given the controversy.
3. Atty. Wilfredo Garrido
– Taberna says he follows Atty. Garrido and was surprised that his restaurant was even dragged into the issue and defends that his restaurants have been there in the airport for a long time (it doesn’t exactly rebut Atty. Garrido’s claims).
– He laughs at calls to boycott his restaurant given that Kakampinks daw have long been calling for a boycott but they never eat there to begin with.
He then reveals that according to Senator Ping Lacson or Senator JV Ejercito, the only Senator in the 19th Congress who didn’t have an insertion in the 2025 Budget is Sonny Angara because he became Secretary of Education in July 2024.
He angrily calls out and asks why Senator Risa Hontiveros is beyond scrutiny or exempted from scrutiny by Kakampinks or the “learned ones.”
He still doesn’t answer or explain where he got the list and why he didn’t show the other Senators on the list if he doesn’t have a grudge and targetting Risa Hontiveros. 👊
I watched it so you don’t have to. 😩
Walang kwentang live haha walang dinagdag sa conversation walang bagong ambag walang klinaro. 👊
Anthony Taberna is a nothingburger. 👊🍔
#WalangKwenta
ISANG OPEN LETTER KAY G. ANTHONY TABERNA
Hindi Lahat ng Dumaan sa Plenaryo ay Insertion
Hi Anthony,
Kamusta ka na? I hope this letter reaches you in good spirits.
Narinig ko ang paliwanag mo tungkol sa issue ng “insertion” at kay Risa.
Ang intindi ko sa sinabi mo ay lahat ay insertion, kahit yung ginawa sa plenaryo o sa Bicam. Kapag naaprubahan sa plenaryo at dumaan sa Bicam, insertion na rin ‘yon.
At nang sabihin ni Risa na wala siyang ginawang “Bicam insertions” sinabi mo na “technical” ang sagot niya.
Pero Anthony, hindi ito pagiging technical, ito ay pagiging tapat sa proseso.
I. “Amendment” - Ang tanging kinikilalang termino ng batas
Malinaw sa 1987 Constitution, Art. VI, Sec. 24–25(1):
“All appropriation bills shall originate from the House, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.”
Iyan lang ang opisyal na kapangyarihan ng Senado na magmungkahi o umayon sa amendments.
Walang binabanggit ang Saligang Batas tungkol sa “insertions.”
Ang amendment ay ginagawa habang bukas ang plenaryo, may debate, may boto, at nakatala sa Journal.
Ito ang demokratikong proseso , malinaw kung sino ang nagpanukala at paano ito pinagtibay.
II. “Insertion” - Ang tamang kahulugan at hangganan
Dito kadalasang nagkakagulo.
Ginagamit ng ilan ang “insertion” para ilarawan ang anumang dagdag sa budget. Pero sa batas, ang tawag diyan ay amendment kung ito ay ginawa sa plenaryo o committee hearing.
Iba ang insertion.
Hindi ito termino ng batas. Ito ay praktikal na tawag sa mga idinagdag pagkatapos maisara ang plenaryo, karaniwan sa Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam).
At malinaw ang tungkulin ng Bicam:
“To reconcile disagreeing provisions of the Senate and House versions.”
Ibig sabihin: magrekonsilya, hindi magdagdag.
Kaya kapag may bagong item na pumasok sa Bicam na hindi pinag-usapan sa alinmang bersyon, iyan ang tunay na Bicam insertion, labas sa proseso.
III. Pero hindi lahat ng idinagdag sa Bicam ay mali
May mga pagkakataon na ang Bicam ay nagre-realign lang ng pondong dati nang kasama sa alinmang bersyon. Yan ang tinatawag nating legitimate reconciliation.
Ang problema ay kapag may bagong proyekto o alokasyon na wala sa alinmang bersyon at hindi dumaan sa debate o boto.
Doon ito nagiging irregular o iligal.
Kaya kung gusto nating maging eksakto:
“Amendment” — ginagawa sa liwanag, may tala, may boto.
“Insertion” — ginagawa sa dilim, walang record, walang umaako.
IV. Kaya hindi tamang sabihing “technical” si Risa
Kapag ginamit ni Risa ang terminong “Bicam insertion”, hindi siya nagtatago sa teknikalidad, inaayos niya ang katotohanan.
Precision is not evasion, Anthony. it is just being honest.
Ang pagiging malinaw sa termino ay hindi pagtatago, kundi paninindigan.
V. Halimbawa ng mga totoong “Bicam insertions”
Noong 2019, sina Sen. Ping at ilang senador ay nag-report ng ₱75B na dagdag sa DPWH budget na ginawa sa Bicam nang walang deliberasyon.
Ngayong 2025, muli itong lumitaw, may ₱142.7B na idinagdag umano sa Bicam na wala sa bersyon ng Senado o Kamara.
Iyan ang ibig sabihin ng insertion —
hindi dumaan sa proseso, lumabas lang pagkatapos.
VI. At sa sitwasyon ni Risa
Si Risa ay nagmungkahi ng amendments nang bukas at malinaw, tulad ng ibang senador.
Pero nang makita niyang binawasan ng Bicam ang pondo ng PhilHealth, 4Ps, edukasyon at ₱373B ang nadagdag sa unprogrammed funds, tumanggi siyang pumirma sa Bicam report at bumoto ng “NO” sa 2025 budget.
Kung totoo ngang may insertions siya, bakit niya tatanggihan ang mismong budget na iyon?
🕯️ Panghuli
Hindi lahat ng dumaan sa Plenaryo ay insertion.
Hindi lahat ng dagdag ay mali.
Ngunit ang Bicam insertion, iyong idinagdag nang palihim at walang tala,
iyan ang dapat bantayan.
Huwag sana nating sabihing “technical” ang pagtutuwid ng termino.
Dahil sa panahon ng disinformation,
ang katotohanan mismo ang ating pinakamalinaw na anyo ng katapangan.
Maraming salamat, Anthony. At nawa’y mabuti kayo ng inyong pamilya.
Gumagalang,
Edwin
hirap pag nagsama sama ang isang buntis na kabuwanan na nya, isang senior at isang asawang tinatrangkaso.
sino mag huhugas ng plato? maglilinis ng bahay? mag aalaga ng mga alagain? hahaha shempre si buntis 😂