Marcos confident of budget constitutionality
Metro Manila, Philippines - President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the national budget can withstand legal scrutiny amid concerns over alleged “blank items” in the bicameral version of Congress.
Former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab questioned the validity of the General Appropriations Act before the Supreme Court.
“Well, the SolGen of course, will be the ones who will argue for the government and he tells me – SolGen Menard (Guevarra) tells me that we are on a solid footing in terms of constitutionality,” said Marcos in an interview with reporters in Cebu on Thursday.
“We will let the SolGen make the argument before the Supreme Court and we are very confident that our case is strong,” he added.
In a separate event, Marcos reiterated that he personally reviewed and analyzed the budget and found no blank items.
Speaking before the National Convention of Lawyers in Cebu, Marcos said that he personally read the budget bill of at least 4,000 pages.
“But let me tell you, as president, I am going to give you a run for your money. Just last month, I had to read 4,057 pages of the General Appropriations Act for 2025,” said Marcos, earning applause from the audience.
“Because I reviewed it, analyzed it, and yes - in parts vetoed it. And so, for those of you and up to now I cannot find those damned blank items,” he added.
Marcos added that the government will keep looking at the alleged blank items.
“But I don’t – I really I’m convinced that they simply do not exist because it is not allowed to exist,” he said.
Marcos previously slammed former President Rodrigo Duterte over claims of blank provisions in the national budget and called them false and misleading.
"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 totally 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.
