Manila, Jan. 5 -- A "source of abuse and corruption" under the proposed 2026 national budget was removed by the Senate even before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. exercised his veto power, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said Monday.

In a statement following the signing of the 2026 national budget, Gatchalian said he respects the President's constitutional authority to veto certain provisions but stressed that the PHP80-billion Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) under the Unprogrammed Appropriations (UA) was already purged by the Senate.

"I would like to highlight that the PHP80-billion SAGIP under the Unprogrammed Appropriations had already been removed by the Senate," Gatchalian, Senate Com...