Marcos denies Duterte budget claims: ‘He's lying’
Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. slammed former President Rodrigo Duterte over claims of blank provisions in the national budget and called them false and misleading.
In a press conference on Monday during an event in Taguig, Marcos minced no words against Duterte, who questioned the General Appropriations Act (GAA) with Davao Third District Rep. Isidro Ungab.
"He's lying. He's a president. He knows that you cannot pass a GAA with a blank [provision]. He's lying," Marcos said.
The president went further to say that never did such a thing happen, where provisions were left without specifications on projects and funding.
"Sa kasaysayan ng buong Pilipinas, hindi pinapayagan na magkaroon ng item ang GAA na hindi nakalagay kung ano yung project, at saka ano yung, yung gastos, ano ‘yung pondo. [Translation: In the country’s history, the GAA has not been allowed to have an item without specifying the project, and also the costs, and the funds.] So, it’s a lie," Marcos said.
The president also encouraged the public to verify the claims by reviewing the documents with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
"Tingnan n’yo, huwag na ninyo busisiin isa-isa. Hanapin niyo yung sinasabi nila na blank check. Tignan nyo kung meron kahit isa. Para mapatunayan na tama ang sinasabi kong kasinungalingan ‘yan. That’s my reaction," he said.
[Translation: Look, don’t scrutinize it one by one. Find the so-called blank check they’re talking about. See if there’s even one. To prove that what I’m saying is the truth.]
In a Facebook video shared on Duterte’s official page, Ungab said certain sections of the budget - specifically those concerning the Department of Agriculture (DA) and unprogrammed appropriations - had missing figures, with amounts potentially reaching billions of pesos.
Duterte, in his own remarks, criticized the supposed omissions, calling the bicameral conference committee report incomplete and invalid.
“It’s not only inaccurate but I think the budget is in totality invalid. Hindi na pwede mag blanko-blanko diyan sa pera ng tao [You cannot leave blank spaces like that with the people’s money],” said Duterte.
