TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Kiko Benitez has ordered an immediate internal investigation after Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson revealed he rejected an alleged ₱5-million fund allocation linked to the agency.
Secretary Benitez categorically denied authorizing any individual to offer financial allocations to lawmakers.
“As TESDA Secretary, I did not authorize anyone to offer any allocation or one amounting to ₱5 million to Senator Ping Lacson,” Benitez stated.
“We thank the Senator for promptly informing us of these misrepresentations. We welcome the opportunity to get to the bottom of this matter and fully support efforts to establish the facts,” Benitez reiterated.
The controversy erupted after Senator Lacson posted a screenshot on social media of a message relayed to his Senate staff early in the week, claiming a ₱5-million fund had been set aside for him.
Lacson immediately turned down the proposition, instructing his chief of staff, Stephanie, to decline.
The veteran senator stated he intends to bring the matter up for rigorous questioning during the upcoming Senate plenary debates on TESDA’s proposed 2027 budget.
Lacson noted that the perpetrators likely mistook him for someone open to what they considered “standard practice,” adding he briefly considered staging an entrapment operation before deciding against it out of consideration for his staff.
While acknowledging that TESDA routinely touches base with senators during budget season to address legislative concerns, Benitez stressed that any unauthorized offers or solicitations run entirely counter to his office’s directives.
He reaffirmed his shared values with Lacson regarding good governance, transparency, and accountability.
“An immediate internal investigation has been ordered to determine the truth, identify those responsible for any unauthorized actions or misrepresentations, and apply appropriate administrative and, if warranted, criminal cases,” Benitez warned.
Concluding his statement, Benitez emphasized that TESDA has consistently earned high trust and approval ratings from the public, and the agency is fully resolved to safeguard that confidence through uncompromised institutional integrity.