Malacañang has defended the proposed 2021 budget allocation for the government task force seeking to end the local communist armed conflict, saying its projects are “valid” expenditures.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque issued the statement after the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives reportedly called for the removal of P16.44 billion allocated for an anti-communist insurgency program in the 2021 national budget proposal.

"Ang pagkakaintindi ko po lahat po iyan ay projects related to the anti-insurgency campaign ng ating gobyerno and that’s a valid expenditure. (From what I understand, those are projects related to the anti-insurgency campaign of the government and that's a valid expenditure)," Roque said during a televised briefing Monday.

"In any case, hindi po para sa Makabayan bloc alone na kuwestiyunin iyan. Sana po makuha nila ang suporta ng mas maraming kasama nila sa Kongreso para po mawala iyang ganiyang entry. (In any case, it's not for the Makabayan bloc alone to question that. They can try to get the support of more colleagues in Congress to remove that entry)," he added.

Nonetheless, Roque said they would abide by the decision of Congress in reviewing the budget proposal submitted by the executive branch. "As of now, that is the budget proposal coming from the Executive and we bow to the wisdom of Congress but not just to the Makabayan bloc," he said.

Some Makabayan lawmakers earlier questioned the fund allocation for Barangay Development Program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), raising suspicion these are allegedly pork barrel funds that may be used in the next elections.

Interior and Local Secretary Eduardo Año however has dispelled concerns about the budget proposal for barangay development, saying it will be used for various projects such farm-to-market roads, health facilities, and school buildings.