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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace says 'too soon to comment' on petition vs 2025 national budget

Palace says 'too soon to comment' on petition vs 2025 national budget

Published Jan 28, 2025 06:26 am

Malacañang stayed tight-lipped over a petition lodged before the Supreme Court against the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), saying it is "too soon to comment" about the matter.

ES Bersamin.jpg
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said it was too early to comment on the petition filed by former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez and Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab challenging the P6.326 trillion national budget.

Bersamin refused to make a statement on it as he has yet to see the contents of the petition.

"Too soon to comment," the executive secretary said on Tuesday, Jan. 28.

"I have yet to be served. Hence, I have not seen the contents. After that, the comment will be through the Solicitor General," he added.

Also on Tuesday, Rodriguez, Ungab, and other petitioners filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition against the 2025 national budget before the High Court.

It can be recalled that former president Rodrigo Duterte and Ungab flagged the supposed "blank items" in the national budget signed by Marcos on Dec. 30 last year. Duterte said that if there were indeed blank items in the budget, "there is something terribly wrong" about it.

Marcos later responded to the allegations, saying the former president was peddling fake news, and that he was lying. He pointed out that a GAA cannot be enacted if it included blank items.

Last week, Bersamin expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would not nullify the P6.235-trillion 2025 national budget, citing the need for the government to function. He also said that reverting the enacted budget would be impossible.

The Palace official further said Malacañang could not stop those who want to challenge the constitutionality of the national budget, and the Executive could not be held responsible for it.

Related Tags

GAA Supreme Court President Marcos Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin 2025 national budget
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