Escudero denies alleged insertions in 2025 budget

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday denied claims that there are billions of pesos worth of insertions in the 2025 national budget.

At a press conference, Escudero called the reports a “demolition job” in connection to his earlier bid to retain his Senate presidency post.

“Sabi nilang noong una P9 billion daw ‘yung sa Sorsogon, P12 billion daw ‘yung Bulacan. Sunod sinabi na P142 billion, sunod binura nila ‘yun, ginawang P150 billion. Alin ba talaga ang sasagutin ko roon? Pangalawa, noong una ang sinabi ako lang, sunod sinama si Senator Villanueva, sunod buong Senado na raw ‘yun,” he said.

(They first said that it was P9 billion in Sorsogon, P12 billion in Bulacan. Next they said it was P142 billion, then they deleted it, making it P150 billion. Which one do I really have to answer? Secondly, they said it was only me at first, then Senator Villanueva was included, then the entire Senate.)

“Bibigyan ko kayo ng kabuuang sagot. Ang kabuuang panukala amendment kaugnay sa 2025 budget ay umaabot sa humigit kumulang P600 bilyon. Nilipat- lipat, tinanggal, dinagdag. So, kung totoo man ‘yung sinasabi nila na P150 billion ang binago ng Senado, nasaan ‘yung P500 bilyon ‘yung magbabagong ‘yun saan nanggaling?”

(I will give you a complete answer. The total proposed amendment on the 2025 budget amounted to approximately P600 billion. It was later on revised. If their allegation that the Senate changed P150 billion, where’s the remaining P500 billion?)

Escudero also decried the CCTV video showing he visited the House of Representatives in the middle of the bicameral conference committee deliberations of the proposed 2025 budget last year, saying it is clear that the House aims to put him in a bad light over the video when he was just making a usual visit.

“Malamang galing din sa kanila ‘yan, dahil ang paninira, ang na-trace naming paninira laban sa amin ay nanggagaling sa Kamara. Hindi nga lang siguro dalawang beses akong bumisita pero hindi sa tanggapan ni Speaker Romualdez. Sa tanggapan kung saan, sa opisina kung saan isinasagawa ang bicam. Na pinag-usapan din naman noong Bicameral Conference Committee meeting kami. Para tiyakin na ayos ‘yong trabaho ng staff, para tiyakin na nagpapatuloy ng walang problema,” Escudero said.

(The video may have came from the House, because we were able to trace the slander against me from the House. And I paid a visit to the Speaker’s office, where the Bicam discussion was happening, more than twice, and we talked about it. I was there to observe the work of the staff, ensuring everything goes well without a hitch.)

“What are they insinuating? Na nagpunta doon? So, bawal na rin magpunta at gawin ang trabaho bilang bicam member? Bawal bilang Senate President tingnan kung ayos ‘yong staff na gumagawa ng bicam? May insinuation agad na mali? Hindi naman siguro tama ‘yon,” Escudero added.

(What are they insinuating? That I went there and I am not allowed there and that I can’t do my job as Senate President if the staff was working on the bicam. There is an insuation of a wrongdoing?  don't think that's right.)

In response, House spokesperson Princess Abante said Escudero should answer allegations leveled at him instead of pointing fingers at the House in defending himself.

“Bakit po kapag may criticism sa kanya eh tinataasan niya ng kilay ang House of Representatives? Siguro mas mainam na sagutin na lang niya iyong mga tanong sa kanya,” Abante said.

(Why is he raising his eyebrow at the House everytime a criticism is leveled against him. It would be better for him to answer the allegations.)

On the video showing Escudero’s visit during the days of bicameral conference committee’s budget deliberations, Abante said Escudero has to explain his presence there given that it is not required.

“Bakit nga sya andito kung tungkol sa Bicam e iyong Speaker ay hindi naman nakialam sa Bicam ng budget?,” Abante added.

(Why is here in the Bicam when his counterpart, the Speaker, is not involved in the Bicam?)

In December last year, signed into law the P6.326-trillion national budget for 2025 and vetoed over P194 billion worth of line items that are not consistent with his administration's priorities.

Former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab, and others have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to declare the 2025 national budget as unconstitutional amid alleged irregularities and supposed blank items in the bicameral conference committee report.

Marcos, meanwhile, maintained that there were no blank pages in the bicameral conference committee report on the 2025 national budget.

Escudero further denied that there was a P150 billion insertion to the 2025 General Appropriations Act. He also said that there were “changes” in the budget for the province of Sorsogon, but it did not amount to P9 billion, as speculated.

“Para sa’kin, hindi parang makalipas ang 27 taon, ngayon lamang yata ako maaakusahan ng isang bagay na ganyan. Ang masakit dinamay pa si Senator Joel,” he expressed.

(After 27 years, It’s only now that I’m being accused of something like this. What hurts more is that Senator Joel is being included.)

To avoid similar insinuations, Escudero said he will suggest that Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who is set to lead the Senate committee on finance, to release a list of each senator’s proposed amendments in the national budget.

The Senate President further asked the government agencies not to request for a budget higher than what was submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

This, as President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the government would operate under a reenacted budget in 2026, warning that he will veto a proposed budget bill that will not be in harmony with his administration’s programs and priorities.

The President also said he will return any proposed Generation Appropriations bill that is not fully aligned with the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

“Ang panukalang budget ay nanggagaling hindi lamang sa executive pero pati sa Kongreso. Hindi naman porket binalangkas ng executive lahat ‘yun ay tama na. Hindi naman porket binalangkas ng executive lahat ‘yun ay hindi na pwedeng baguhin at tila nakaukit na sa bato,” Escudero said.

(The proposed budget comes not only from the executive but also from Congress. Just because it was the executive that outlined everything, all of those are already right and cannot be changed.)

“Ang marapat na dapat baguhin, dapat baguhin dahil ‘yung mga kalihim mismo ng Pangulo ay humihiling sa Kongreso ng dagdag o pagbabago sa kani-kanilang budget. So siguro kung may ganyang uri ng kautusan ang Pangulo dapat pagsabihan din niya ang kanyang mga kalihim na kapag may sinumite ng budget ang DBM para sa kanilang departamento, ‘wag na silang humirit pa dahil bago sila makahirit ang pagkukunan ay ibang departamento rin,” he added.

(What should be changed, must be changed because the President's cabinet secretaries themselves are asking the Congress for an increase or change in their respective budgets. So maybe the President should also tell his secretaries that when the DBM submits a budget for their department, they should stop asking for an increase because the source for that increase will be gotten from the budget of another agency.)

The DBM defines a reenacted budget as a situation where the previous year’s GAA is extended and remains in effect for a preceding year until such time the Congress passes a budget bill into law.

Marcos approved earlier this month the P6.793-trillion NEP for Fiscal Year 2026. — BAP, GMA Integrated News