Sara Duterte: Marcos, lawmakers accountable for unconstitutional national budgets

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Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and members of Congress should be held accountable for the passage of the budget laws for 2024 and 2025, and part of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which were deemed by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional.

In a statement, Duterte called out the Marcos and lawmakers following the Supreme Court's ruling in relation to irregular increases in unprogrammed appropriations (UA) that exceeded the President's proposed budget.

"Ipinagtanggol ng Korte Suprema ang batas. Ngayon, panahon na upang managot sa taumbayan si Pangulong Marcos at ang mga miyembro ng Kongreso na naglapastangan at nagpakasasa sa pera na dapat ay napunta sana sa pagpapabuti ng buhay ng mga Pilipino," Duterte said.

(The Supreme Court defended our laws. Now, it's time for President Marcos and members of Congress who violated and enriched themselves to be held accountable to the people. These funds could have been used to improve the lives of Filipinos.)

In its ruling, the Supreme Court struck down the 2024 budget because of a P449.5-billion increase in unprogrammed appropriations, while the 2025 GAA was voiced because of the additional P17.99 billion for the Special Road Fund of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

It also ruled as unconstitutional Special Provisions 1(a) and (b), Chapter XLIII of the 2026 GAA, which authorized unprogrammed appropriations.

Duterte was critical of Marcos' role in the budget process.

"Pinapasalamatan natin ang Korte Suprema sa pagpapatibay sa Konstitusyon at pagtitiyak na manaig ang batas, batay sa desisyon nito hinggil sa pagsabing unconstitutional ang General Appropriations Act noong 2024 at 2025, at ang bahagi ng GAA 2026. Ngayon, kailangang panagutan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang pagpasa ng isang pambansang badyet na malinaw na taliwas sa National Expenditure Program (NEP)," Duterte said.

(We thank the Supreme Court for standing by the Constitution and ensuring that the rule of law prevailed, based on its decision regarding the unconstitutionality of the 2024, 2025 and part of the GAA 2026. Now, the President has to be held responsible for the budget that clearly went beyond the NEP.)

Duterte said the President's responsibility is clear since a budget bill would not be passed into a law unless the President signs it.

"Dapat niyang sagutin kung bakit niya nilagdaan ang isang badyet na hindi naman tumutugma sa panukala ng kanyang sariling administrasyon. Ang pambansang badyet ay pera ng taumbayan, hindi kasangkapan sa pamumulitika at personal na interes ng mga nasa puwesto sa gobyerno," the vice president added.

(The President should answer why he signed a budget that is not aligned with the proposals of his administration. The national budget is the people's money, not a tool for politics and personal interests of those in government.)

GMA News Online has requested comment from Malacañang regarding Duterte's comments, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

Earlier in the day, Malacañang said it would ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling.

The Palace said Marcos was simply adhering to existing policy and could not be held liable as he was complying with the law. — VDV, GMA News