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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte allies, NGO to file charges vs Romualdez, solons over 2025 budget controversy

Duterte allies, NGO to file charges vs Romualdez, solons over 2025 budget controversy

Published Feb 8, 2025 04:00 am

At A Glance

  • A non-government organization (NGO), backed by Duterte allies, will file on Monday, Feb. 10 criminal charges against House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other congressmen over falsification of public documents after they allegedly inserted billions worth of funds into the 2025 budget.

A non-government organization (NGO), backed by Duterte allies, will file on Monday, Feb. 10 criminal charges against House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other congressmen over falsification of public documents after they allegedly inserted billions worth of funds into the 2025 budget.

The Citizens Crime Watch, Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial aspirant Jimmy Bondoc and Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez will file charges against Romualdez, former House Appropriations Committee chair Zaldy Co and Majority Leader Mannix Dalipe as well as "several jane and john does" before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, who will serve as legal counsel for the complainants, said the move stemmed from the sudden insertion of 214-billion worth of budget into the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

"It is a falsification of legislative documents, which is a crime," he said in a Pandesal Forum.

"It is a crime not only to the Revised Penal Code but... against the Filipino people," he added.

Topacio will be assisted by lawyer Raul Lambino, another senatorial candidate running under former president Rodrigo Duterte-chaired PDP Laban.

Citizens Crime Watch president Diego Magpantay said their move is not political as even before, the group has been filing charges against government officials, both from the opposition and the administration.

The move came three days after the House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.

"Ang simple pong nangyari dito ay hindi po nasunod ang ating Constitutional process kung papano magpasa ng budget. Bukod don... meron pang nagkaroon ng falsification. May lumabag na mambabatas sa batas (What simply happened here is that the Constitution process to pass a budget has not been followed. Aside from that, there is also a falsification of the document. A lawmaker also violated a law)," Bondoc said.

The complainants decried that the enrolled bill for the 2025 GAA is different from the bicameral committee-approved measure.

"Doon lang po tayo dumikit sa katwiran na 'yon. Kaya po wag natin lagyan ng kulay ng politiko (Let's just stick to the fact. Let's not put political colors in this)," he added.

Related Tags

Martin Romualdez General Appropriations Act (GAA) mannix dalipe zaldy co
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