Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson says TESDA offered him a P5-million “allocation fund,” but the agency denies authorizing any such offer. GMA reports Lacson’s claim as rejected by TESDA, while Inquirer and other outlets foreground denials from TESDA’s chief.
TESDA Director-General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez says, in statements covered by Inquirer, he did not authorize anyone to offer an allocation amounting to P5 million to Lacson. Lacson, as described by Philstar and Inquirer, has framed the episode as raising possible corruption concerns tied to TESDA’s proposed 2027 budget. He says he will seek an explanation when TESDA’s 2027 budget is debated in the Senate plenary.
Overall coverage centers on a dispute over whether the alleged P5-million offer occurred and whether it was linked to TESDA’s budget planning. The outlets largely agree on the competing positions: Lacson’s allegation versus TESDA’s denial, and Lacson’s plan to raise the issue during 2027 budget deliberations.
