
Senators scoff at claims of 2025 budget anomalies
SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero firmly dismissed allegations of irregularities in the 2025 national budget, particularly claims of “blank items” in the bicameral conference committee report.
Escudero underscored the distinction between the bicameral report and the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the final legally binding document.
“No bicameral conference committee report has yet been declared unconstitutional; no committee report has yet been declared unconstitutional. In fact, no one has yet been sued in court to declare a committee report or bicameral conference committee report unconstitutional,” Escudero stated during a media briefing.
He emphasized: “It is only a law that can be questioned as unconstitutional.”
The Senate President also addressed concerns raised by former President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab, who alleged that the bicameral report contained blank items and called for accountability.
Escudero reiterated that the GAA, not the bicameral report, is subject to judicial scrutiny.
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, a member of the bicameral committee, dismissed the allegations, asserting that thorough reviews were conducted before finalizing the report.
“Sa akin and my team, wala kami nakitang blanco kasi dapat balanse. Yan ang tinitingnan namin parati,” Gatchalian explained, adding that a dedicated team reviewed every line of the budget before he signed it.
Senator Joel Villanueva echoed this view, stating: “Wala akong nakita. Lahat nire-review nang mabuti bago ito pinirmahan.” Villanueva also emphasized the importance of breaking down lump sums to enhance transparency in budget allocations.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, dismissed the claims, saying: “Taon-taonan naming tinatapos ang trabaho para magpasa ng budget. Kaya hindi ako naniniwala sa sinasabing ito.”
Former President Duterte and Representative Ungab have flagged discrepancies, including alleged blank items in the bicameral report.
Ungab asserted that revealing these issues is part of their commitment to transparency and accountability. However, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has refuted these claims, calling them baseless. “Hanapin n’yo yung sinasabi nila na blank check. Tingnan ninyo kung meron kahit isa para mapatunayan na tama ang sinasabi ko,” Marcos said in defense of the 2025 GAA.
Based on reports, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin also rejected the allegations, describing them as “outrightly malicious” and labeling the claims as “fake news.” He assured the public that the GAA underwent thorough vetting and contained no blank items.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) clarified that the alleged blank items were part of the bicameral conference committee report, not the enacted GAA. The DBM confirmed that the signed GAA is complete and does not contain blank appropriations, addressing the public’s concerns over the allegations.
Escudero’s statements and the reactions of key senators reflect confidence in the legislative process and the integrity of the 2025 budget. While political critiques continue to emerge, particularly in the lead-up to the elections, Escudero and his colleagues maintain that the budget process adheres to legal and procedural standards, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.