Ombudsman Remulla questions funding for projects without plans in House-approved 2027 budget

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Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Saturday criticized the House-approved version of the proposed 2027 national budget, questioning the allocation of funds for projects that have no concrete plans.

The People’s Budget Coalition (PBC) has raised concerns over alleged budget insertions worth more than P1 trillion in the House-approved General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

“Nagbago yung attitude ng Congress sa budget, noong araw… Hindi ganoon. You stay humble,” Remulla, a former Cavite congressman, said on his radio program on dzRH.

(The attitude of Congress toward the budget has changed. In the past, it was not like that. You stay humble.)

“Makuha yung pondo, bahala na kung papaano gagawin… walang preparation. Walang design. Walang specific plan. Walang specific comprehensive plan,” he added.

(They secure the funding, then leave it to others to figure out how to carry out the project… There is no preparation, no design, no specific plan, no comprehensive plan.)

Remulla said some local politicians who are not allied with their respective governors may seek separate funding allocations to avoid going through the Provincial Development Council (PDC) and the Regional Development Council (RDC).

“Dapat diyan, yung pulitika diyan, ma-neutralize,” Remulla said.

(The political considerations there should be neutralized.)

GMA News has sought comment from the offices of House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III and House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Suansing, representative of Nueva Ecija's first district.

Dy had previously expressed willingness to disclose supporting documents to the PBC to promote greater transparency following the group's concerns over the proposed budget.

“Walang dapat itago kung walang ginagawang mali. At walang dapat katakutan kung ang layunin ay maglingkod nang tapat,” Dy said in an earlier statement.

(There is nothing to hide if nothing wrong is being done. And there is nothing to fear if the intention is to serve honestly.)

Political turncoatism

On another topic, Remulla criticized politicians who switch political affiliations depending on who is sitting president.

“Ako talaga, ang tingin ko sa Pilipinas, we have to shift to a completely representative democracy. We create cult figures, and we create people that we look up to, na ina-idolize natin blindly. In the end, tao lang ‘yan eh. It is the institution that needs to be stronger. Kailangan lakasan na natin yung institution,” Remulla said.

(I believe the Philippines needs to shift to a completely representative democracy. We create cult figures and people whom we look up to and blindly idolize. In the end, they are just people. It is the institution that needs to be stronger. We need to strengthen our institutions.)

“Dapat lumakas yung parties. Tsaka bawal yung balimbing dapat. Kung yan ang party mo, diyan ka na dapat,” he said.

(The political parties should become stronger. Political turncoatism should also not be allowed. If that is your party, you should stay with it.)

Remulla himself has been affiliated with different political parties in the past, including the Nacionalista Party and Lakas-CMD.

He described the practice of frequently switching political parties as wrong, saying that political affiliations should be based on principles.

“With due respect lang, may Partido Federal ngayon, mga member diyan, mga dating Liberal Party, dating Lakas… lumipat-lipat na sila ng partido tuwing kung sino man ang presidenta, kakampihan nila. Mali,” Remulla said.

(With all due respect, there are members of Partido Federal who used to belong to the Liberal Party and Lakas. They have switched political parties depending on who the president is and whom they choose to support. That is wrong.)

Remulla also criticized the minimum qualifications for presidential candidates, saying that they should at least be high school graduates. —VBL, GMA News