Grace Poe not among 3 in 2025 budget final deliberation, says Puno

Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno has clarified that former Senator Grace Poe was not involved in the final deliberations of the 2025 national budget as he corrected an earlier remark that included the former lawmaker. 

Puno has apologized to Poe as he learned that the latter was not even allowed to participate in the deliberations.

“By the way, I want to take this opportunity to apologize to Sen. Grace Poe kasi nabanggit ko siya as one of the three people that were involved in the final drafting of the end result,” Puno told reporters. 

“And I learned that even she was not really allowed to participate in the discussion. So I apologize to her in front of everybody,” he added. 

Puno has yet to respond to GMA News Online's query about the identity of the three officials.

To recall, Poe served as Senate Committee on Finance chairperson in the 19th Congress. 

Poe's term as senator ended last June 30.

The approved national budget for this year was P6.352 trillion. —LDF, GMA Integrated News