Malacañang on Monday refuted former President Rodrigo Duterte’s allegations of discrepancies in the 2025 national budget, describing the claims as “criminal” and baseless.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin rejected accusations that parts of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) were left blank, allegedly giving the administration the leeway to allocate funds like a “blank check.” He emphasized that all 4,057 pages of the P6.326-trillion budget underwent thorough review by Congress and the Department of Budget and Management before being signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“These malicious claims of deliberate blanks are outrightly false and should be condemned,” Bersamin said, assuring that every funding item had been meticulously examined. The budget, now publicly accessible via the Department of Budget and Management website, contains no discrepancies, he added.
The allegations stem from Duterte and former Davao City Representative Isidro Ungab, who flagged supposed missing amounts for certain items under the Department of Agriculture and unprogrammed appropriations. Ungab argued that these blanks were not mere typographical errors. Duterte warned that tampering with the budget could lead to criminal charges.
Responding to the claims, Bersamin urged the public to verify the facts themselves, noting that the budget’s printed figures debunk the accusations. He further highlighted that the president had vetoed over P194 billion worth of line items inconsistent with his administration’s priorities, including certain programs under the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Bersamin concluded by calling for accountability against the spread of misinformation, reiterating that no irregularities exist in the 2025 national budget.
