MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda’s prolonged absence from the Senate could soon force a reshuffling of key assignments in the deliberations over the proposed ₱7.2-trillion 2027 national budget, as lawmakers race to keep one of Congress’ most important annual responsibilities on schedule.
Senate Committee on Finance chairperson Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said the agencies assigned to Legarda for budget scrutiny may have to be distributed among other finance committee vice chairpersons if her extended medical leave prevents her from participating in the upcoming hearings.
The move, however, is being discussed as a practical adjustment rather than a disciplinary action against Legarda.
Ejercito said he had already informed Legarda about the departments and agencies placed under her responsibility, many of which involve culture, history and environmental concerns. According to the senator, Legarda acknowledged the assignments but gave no indication of when she would be able to resume her Senate duties.
If she remains unavailable, Ejercito said the workloads could be divided among other vice chairpersons because handling all of the affected agencies himself would be difficult.
That seemingly routine scheduling issue is becoming more significant because the Senate is entering an unusually congested period.
A ₱7.2-Trillion Budget Is Waiting
The Marcos administration’s proposed 2027 national budget is about ₱7.2 trillion, putting enormous responsibility on the Senate finance committee to examine agency spending plans, proposed infrastructure projects and billions of pesos in taxpayer-funded programs.
Ejercito, who recently took over as Senate finance committee chair, has promised tighter scrutiny of the spending plan and said the chamber intends to continue reforms designed to make budget deliberations more transparent.
Among the measures he has supported are stricter criteria for evaluating budget amendments, continued public access through the Senate’s Budget Transparency Portal and greater transparency during bicameral conference committee deliberations.
But there is another complication.
The Senate is simultaneously serving as an impeachment court in the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, sharply reducing the amount of time available for ordinary legislative work and budget hearings.
Ejercito said senators have been discussing the possibility of allowing budget hearings to proceed at the same time as plenary sessions so the chamber does not fall behind.
The Senate’s present timetable has left limited days available for budget scrutiny, creating pressure to finish committee-level deliberations and begin preparing reports before the process reaches its later stages.
That makes every available finance committee member—and every assigned hearing—more important.
Legarda’s Medical Leave Has Been Repeatedly Extended
Legarda has been away from regular Senate proceedings since early August.
Her medical leave initially covered August 3 to 5, followed by additional leave periods on August 11 to 12, August 17 to 19, August 24 to 26, and September 1 to 2. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed the latest leave notice.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has said Legarda informed him she was dealing with what he described as a “serious illness.” He declined to disclose further details, calling the matter personal.
Gatchalian also said Legarda has not been receiving her Senate salary while she is on medical leave.
As of the latest publicly reported statements, Ejercito said he had not been informed when Legarda would return.
Her Leave Comes Amid a Separate Ombudsman Investigation
Legarda’s absence has also attracted additional attention because it overlaps with an Office of the Ombudsman investigation involving her and her son, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste.
The Ombudsman is examining plunder and graft complaints connected to allegations involving solar-energy projects associated with Leviste’s renewable-energy business and commitments under its congressional franchise.
The Ombudsman has since ordered Legarda and Leviste to submit counter-affidavits responding to the complaints.
Legarda has strongly denied wrongdoing.
She has called the accusations against her false and baseless, maintained that she followed Senate procedures in filing her medical leave, and said the public should not draw conclusions about her overseas travel based on the pending allegations.
The complaints remain allegations, and the ongoing preliminary investigation does not by itself establish criminal liability.
Why the Possible Reassignment Matters
On paper, redistributing a handful of agency hearings may look like an internal Senate staffing decision.
In practice, it could affect how quickly lawmakers move through one of the largest national spending plans in Philippine history.
Finance committee vice chairpersons routinely take responsibility for groups of agencies, preside over their budget hearings, question officials about proposed expenditures and eventually help consolidate recommendations for the full committee.
If one senator cannot perform those assignments, other lawmakers must absorb the workload—and this year, they may have to do so while the Senate is simultaneously functioning as an impeachment court.
Ejercito has indicated that the finance committee wants to move ahead regardless.
For now, Legarda technically retains her Senate position, and Ejercito has described the redistribution of her assignments only as a contingency should her absence continue.
But with the ₱7.2-trillion 2027 budget entering the heart of congressional scrutiny, the real question is becoming less about whether the hearings will continue.
It is who will be sitting in the chair when they do.
WWC ONE MEDIA MJE
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