Manila, Aug. 13 -- Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday the 2025 national budget was apparently the last to carry the controversial mechanism called the "leadership fund," also known as "allocables," which allowed lawmakers to identify projects even while the executive branch was still preparing the proposed spending plan.

"Sa 2026 budget, wala na. So sa 2025, yun ang last budget year. I believe sa 2026, wala na yung leadership fund (It is no longer in the 2026 budget. So, 2025 was the last budget year. I believe the leadership fund is no longer in the 2026 budget)," Lacson said in a chance interview.

Despite its apparent removal, Lacson said the practice should be permanently abandoned, describing it as a worse version of the outlawed...