President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. dismissed allegations made by former President Rodrigo Duterte about discrepancies in the 2025 national budget, calling the claims “lies.”
“He’s lying. He knows perfectly well that such things don’t happen,” Marcos said, emphasizing that the General Appropriations Act (GAA) cannot be passed without clear allocations for projects and funds. Marcos also urged the public to verify the budget documents, which are accessible on the Department of Budget and Management’s website.
Malacañang joined the rebuttal, with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin denouncing Duterte’s allegations as “malicious fake news” and “criminal.” Bersamin assured that every page of the P6.326-trillion budget was meticulously reviewed before its approval.
The controversy stemmed from remarks by Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab, who flagged alleged omissions in the budget. Duterte echoed Ungab’s concerns, suggesting that those responsible could face legal consequences if irregularities are proven.
However, Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo clarified that the former president’s statements were hypothetical, based on Ungab’s findings. Panelo said Marcos’ reaction was misplaced, as Duterte did not directly accuse him of signing a flawed budget.
