By Liza Soriano
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. assured that there are no blanks in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Marcos emphasized that he had thoroughly reviewed and analyzed the 2025 budget and found no such issues.
“Just last month, I had to read 4,057 pages of the General Appropriations Act of 2025. I reviewed it, analyzed it, and yes—in some parts, vetoed it,” he said.
“I am truly convinced that blanks simply do not exist, because they are not allowed. So for those who think the presidency is all about handshakes and photo ops, I assure you, that fine print is very much alive in my office as well.”
The GAA is currently being challenged in the Supreme Court, with petitioners asking the Court to declare it unconstitutional.
Vic Rodriguez, one of the petitioners, called the GAA “illegal and criminal.”
“Inscribed in the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines are the following constitutional directives which must serve as a guide in this Petition for Certiorari. These directives were blatantly violated by the passage of Republic Act No. 12116, which must be struck down as unconstitutional through the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review,” he said.
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