
NO BLANK ITEMS
“I cannot find those damned blank items.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. insisted that there is no blank items in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
In his speech during the 20th National Convention of Lawyers of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Cebu City, Marcos said that he thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the 2025 budget and found no such issues.
“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” Marcos said.
“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. We’ll keep looking, we’ll keep looking. But I don’t – I really I’m convinced that they simply do not exist because it is not allowed to exist,” the President added.
Former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and Davao Congressman Isisdro Ungab filed a petition before the Supreme Court to declare the national budget as unconstitutional amid irregularities and supposed blank items in the bicameral conference committee report.
“So for those of you who think that the Presidency is just handshakes, photo ops, I assure you, that fine print is alive in my office as well,” Marcos added.