In a bold statement from the heart of Manila, leaders of the House of Representatives have thrown down the gauntlet, asserting their full compliance with the Supreme Court’s request for the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the current year’s budget documents. They are brimming with confidence that the Supreme Court’s scrutiny will reveal no irregularities, directly challenging the critics who have labeled the budget process as flawed.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a preliminary conference for February 28, with oral arguments to follow on April 1 in Baguio City. In anticipation, House Assistant Majority Leaders Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list and Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol Party-list have publicly stood firm on the integrity of the 2025 GAA. Acidre emphasized the transparency of the process, welcoming the Supreme Court’s initiative to examine the enrolled bill.
Bongalon reinforced this stance, confident that the review would debunk the notion of the budget being a ‘blank check’. He also addressed the petitioners’ complaints about access to the bill, suggesting they should formally request it from the House.
The challengers of the budget’s legality are linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte, including Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab and former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez. Amidst this legal battle, House leaders have also hit back at Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez’s accusations of falsifying public documents against Speaker Martin Romualdez and other officials. They dismissed these claims as a distraction from the ongoing impeachment case against the Vice President, with Acidre labeling it as a mere deflection tactic.