Sandro's budget insertions? Palace says public funds must be utilized properly

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The Palace emphasized that all of the projects to be funded by the 2027 national budget should have the proper details, saying that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will look at everything properly with no exception—including those linked to his son, House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro addressed the budget insertions being linked to Sandro Marcos, saying that any insinuations were premature, as the budget still needed to go through the entire legislative process.

However, no project should be approved that lacked details, she stressed.

“Ang pondo ng bayan ay dapat pakinabangan ng sambayanan, iyan ang utos ng Pangulo. Kung may kailangan na mabigay na mga detalye, hindi—uulitin ko po, itong aking pagsagot ay hindi lamang para sa isyu ni Congressman Sandro Marcos; ito po ay sa lahat ng mga mambabatas na siyang mayroong power of the purse,” Castro said.

(Public funds must be used by the public, that is the President’s orders. If details need to be given, no—I will say it again, my answer is not just Congressman Sandro Marcos’ issue; this is for all of the lawmakers with the power of the purse.)

“Hindi po pipikitan ng Pangulo ang mga proyektong alam nilang walang detalye. So, doon po sa mga nagbabantay sa budget, kailangan namin ang tulong ninyo. Hindi po kayo makakasira sa gobyerno. Kapag may nakita po kayo na dapat tapikin, na dapat pagtuunan ng pansin, sabihin lang po ninyo at nakikinig ang Pangulo,” she added.

(The President will now close his eyes on any project that lacks details. So to those who are guarding the budget, we need your help. You will not be wrecking the government. If you see something that should be hit, that should be given notice, you should say it and the President is listening.)

Castro also thumbed down several headlines that made it appear like she was defending the congressman.

The People’s Budget Coalition said it found more than P1 trillion worth of "red flags" in the proposed 2027 budget, and alleged that the largest chunk of infrastructure insertions—P4.37 billion—has been allotted to Sandro Marcos’ district. — BM, GMA News