A political firestorm erupted this week on the Senate floor, capturing the attention of the nation, as Senator Imee Marcos was allegedly called out and sharply challenged by a high-ranking administration official during a critical budgetary hearing. The intense confrontation, which has been widely circulated across social media, centered on the fate of billions of dollars in public works projects and left the influential Senator visibly frustrated, raising questions about her grasp of the complex legislative schedule. The shocking turn of events has been described by observers as a moment of public embarrassment for the lawmaker.

The controversy began when Senator Marcos entered a hearing and immediately launched a critique, questioning why the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget and its officials were absent from the proceedings. She demanded transparency, suggesting that the lack of representation from the public works sector was feeding public distrust. However, before she could escalate her line of questioning, a colleague reportedly interjected to correct her, pointing out that the DPWH was actually scheduled to present the following day. This initial correction immediately undercut the Senator’s premise, leading some commentators to suggest she was “out of the loop” regarding the legislative calendar.

The real drama, however, unfolded during her heated exchange with former BCDA chief Vince Dizon, who was present to discuss the country’s infrastructure outlook. Senator Marcos aggressively grilled Dizon over massive potential delays to 2026 projects, which she attributed to the department’s failure to implement timely “early procurement.” She warned that the country faced a dismal three quarters of project delays, which would inevitably postpone construction until the rainy season, telling Dizon, “I truly resent the fact that the budget process is being held hostage by the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways!”

Dizon, known for his direct and pragmatic approach, delivered a calm yet decisive counter-argument that publicly challenged the Senator’s indignation. He explained that the delay in procurement was a necessary and prudent step, precisely because Congress had not yet provided final clarity on which projects would be approved. He argued that it would be irresponsible to proceed with bidding before legislative approval was finalized. Dizon also firmly defended his department, stating that despite efforts to improve transparency and reform the agency as directed by the President, the vital work of the DPWH could not halt. The exchange culminated when Marcos, visibly agitated, accused Dizon of intentionally stopping the Bicameral Conference Committee’s work, only for Dizon to state matter-of-factly that he was simply fulfilling his duty to inform them of the economic impact of their current legislative draft. This decisive response is what many are calling the ultimate political “slam,” leaving the Senator’s accusations utterly dismantled.