MANILA – Senate President Francis Escudero has once again dismissed accusations of irregularities in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), describing them as unfair and overlooking the rigorous legislative process that both houses of Congress, along with their staff, underwent to finalize the budget.
Escudero’s comments came in response to a petition filed with the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the constitutionality of specific provisions in the GAA. The petitioners, led by former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez and other former government officials, argue that certain budget allocations violate legal principles and should be invalidated.
In a press briefing on Tuesday (28 Jan 2025), Escudero emphasized that the accusations failed to acknowledge the comprehensive work done by lawmakers and their staff.
“For me, that is an unfair comment and accusation, especially considering the extensive work put into it, not only by the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the Senate and the House of Representatives, but also the staff,” Escudero said.
The Senate President also noted that the legal challenge reflects the increasingly heated political environment, where government actions are heavily scrutinized and litigated. “That is a sign of how intense politics is in our country, but it’s also part of our democratic system. It should not be feared or avoided,” Escudero added.
While acknowledging that government officials should remain accountable to public scrutiny, Escudero pointed out that any disputes over the budget should ultimately be resolved in the courts.
The petition names the House of Representatives, the Senate of the Philippines, and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin as respondents.
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