President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has emphatically defended the 2025 national budget against allegations of 'blank items,' asserting his personal review and dismissing the claims as 'nonexistent.' He addressed a Supreme Court petition challenging the budget's constitutionality, warning that the government would 'shut down everything' if the court ruled against it. Speaking at the 20th National Convention of Lawyers, Marcos stressed the importance of the rule of law and the government's commitment to ensuring justice for all. He highlighted the administration's efforts to strengthen the judiciary and expand access to legal aid.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has defended the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), rejecting claims of alleged blank items as 'nonexistent' and emphasizing his personal review of the national budget law. Marcos responded to a Supreme Court petition filed by former executive secretary and senatorial candidate Vic Rodriguez, who labeled the national budget as 'illegal' and 'criminal.
' When questioned about contingency plans if the budget were deemed unconstitutional, Marcos stated the government would 'shut down everything' if the Supreme Court sided with the petition. 'No, we shut down everything,' he said in a mix of Tagalog and English. 'I guess that’s what they want—they want the government to cease working so their destabilization efforts will continue.'Marcos defended the national budget at the 20th National Convention of Lawyers on Thursday, January 30, before members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City. 'Just last month, I had to read 4,057 pages of the General Appropriations Act for 2025…I reviewed it, analyzed it, and yes, in parts, vetoed it,' Marcos said. 'I still can’t find those damned blank items. We’ll keep looking, but I’m convinced they simply do not exist because it is not allowed,' he added. Strong defense Marcos signed the P5.768-trillion budget into law on December 30, 2024, while vetoing P194 billion in line items deemed inconsistent with his administration’s priorities. Critics, including Rodriguez, have questioned the transparency of certain appropriations. 'So for those of you who think that the presidency is just handshakes and photo ops, I assure you that fine print is alive in my office as well,' Marcos said. Asked about the Supreme Court petition questioning the constitutionality of the national budget due to alleged blank items in the bicameral conference committee report, Marcos expressed confidence in the government’s legal position. 'I’ve read some of the complaint filings,' he said. 'The Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra will represent the government in this case, and he assures me that we have a solid constitutional footing.' Among the petitioners are Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab and Rodriguez, while Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and Senate President Francis Escudero are named as respondents. 'It’s not for me to argue the case; we’ll leave that to the Solicitor General in the Supreme Court. We’re confident that our position is strong,' Marcos said.Upholding rule of law Addressing nearly 4,000 legal professionals at the IBP convention, Marcos stressed the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that government actions remain legally sound. 'There is no better moment than this to reaffirm our shared commitment to the rule of law—a commitment to ensuring that justice remains the bedrock upon which our democracy stands strong and unshaken,' he said. Marcos also underscored the legal profession’s role in shaping national policies, particularly in tackling cybercrime, data privacy, artificial intelligence and climate change. He praised initiatives to expand access to justice, citing the Unified Legal Aid Service Rules, which require lawyers to render at least 60 hours of pro bono legal aid every three years and the IBP’s free legal assistance programs. 'No less significant is the pro bono portal, introduced by the IBP last year. This digital platform has redefined the delivery of legal aid, offering free courtroom representation, legal counseling, document preparation, and developmental legal assistance to the disadvantaged,' Marcos said. To further strengthen the judiciary, Marcos said that his administration had signed 14 new laws establishing additional first- and second-level courts nationwide. 'This administration remains your partner in nurturing an environment where our lawyers excel—where justice is swift, fair and impartial, and where the rule of law remains the cornerstone of all progress,' he said. Marcos also included in his speech a call for unity, urging legal professionals to help build a 'Bagong Pilipinas' where the rule of law prevails, communities are safe, and every Filipino enjoys liberty and justice
Philippines President Marcos Jr. 2025 Budget Supreme Court Rule Of Law Legal Aid National Convention Of Lawyers
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