Escudero says no need to fear petition on 2025 budget report
Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero. | PHOTO: Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — “Hindi ito dapat katakutan, hindi ito dapat ikabahala.”
(It should not be feared, it should not be a cause for concern.)
These were the words used by Senate President Chiz Escudero when he was asked on Tuesday to comment on the petition that questions the alleged blank items in the bicameral conference committee report of the 2025 national spending plan.
The petition was filed by Davao Representative Isidro Ungab and former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez before the Supreme Supreme Court.
“We welcome any petitions to question any law that Congress passes. Para sa akin oportunidad yan para makilahok din sa proseso ng budget ang Korte Suprema — ang third branch, ika nga, ng pamahalaan. Nakita natin ang papel na ginampanan ng Executive Branch, ng Legislative Branch, at ngayon makikita naman natin ang papel na gagampanan ng Judicial Branch,” said Escudero.
Article continues after this advertisement“Para sa akin, hindi ito dapat katakutan. Hindi ito dapat ikabahala. Ito ay bahagi ng ating demokrasya at patunay ito na malakas at matatag ang demokrasya sa ating bansa patungkol sa anumang batas, kabilang na ang national budget,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementPrior to this, Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo confirmed that there were blank items in the bicameral conference committee report on the 2025 national budget, but she clarified these were only for the final computation of the amendments made.
For his part, Escudero said if there were, indeed, blank items, then the last provision of the report would be helpful.
According to the Senate chief, this states that the committee on finance and appropriations is “authorized to fill out any lapses and missing items” in the proposed budget.
“At kung merong conflict [o] pagkakaiba, ang bicameral conference committee report at ang enrolled bill ng budget, ang mananaig [pa rin] ay ang enrolled bill ng budget o ang GAA kung saan wala pong blangko at kulang doon,” said Escudero.
The Senate chief then emphasized that it was not the first time that this phrase was used as it was already included in the bicameral conference committee reports signed by previous Congress.
But is it the first time that there have been blank items in the budget? Escudero believes it’s not.
“Hindi mo masasabing walang ganyan noon. Marahil ang pagkakaiba, dahil sa tindi ng bangayan at away at hidwaan sa pagitan ng mga kulay ng pulitika sa ngayon kaya bawat isang bagay ay pinapadaan nila, ika nga, sa microscope,” said Escudero.
“Pero hindi nangangahulugan na hindi rin yan nangyari noon. Uulitin ko, hindi ko ito kinatatakutan, ito ay dapat yakapin natin bilang pagkakataon na makita ang tatlong ahensya ng pamahalaan na nagfa-function kaugnay sa napakahalagang panukalang batas,” he added.
