A House of Representatives leader expressed confidence on Friday that the Supreme Court will uphold the constitutionality of the 2025 national budget, despite concerns over blank items in the bicameral committee report.
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre assured that the P6.326 trillion General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2025 remains valid and free from irregularities.
“I stand by the regularity of the 2025 GAA. It is above board. We welcome the Supreme Court’s initiative to require a copy of the enrolled bill,” said Acidre, who serves as an assistant majority leader, in a statement quoted by the Philippine News Agency.
The Supreme Court recently ordered Malacañang and Congress to submit original copies of the 2025 GAA and its enrolled bill ahead of a preliminary conference set for February 28, with oral arguments scheduled for April 1.
This development follows a petition filed by Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab, former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez, and four others seeking to declare the 2025 GAA unconstitutional due to blank items in the bicameral report.
Blank Items Debate
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. dismissed the petition, stating that he found no blank items in the over 4,000-page budget document. Meanwhile, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo acknowledged the existence of blank items but clarified that funding sources had already been identified before the bicameral committee’s approval.
Political Retaliation Allegations
Acidre also criticized the recent motion filed by Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez and Vice President Sara Duterte’s allies, which urges the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend House Speaker Martin Romualdez and three other lawmakers over alleged budget insertions.
“This is simply an effort to deflect attention from the impeachment process of Duterte-Carpio,” Acidre said, reaffirming his support for Romualdez.
Earlier this month, the House of Representatives voted to impeach Vice President Duterte-Carpio over alleged constitutional violations.
✅ 2025 national budget
✅ Supreme Court ruling on GAA
✅ Blank items in bicam report
✅ House of Representatives news
✅ Marcos on 2025 budget
✅ Duterte-Carpio impeachment
✅ Budget insertions controversy
✅ Philippine politics 2025
✅ Romualdez vs Duterte allies
✅ Supreme Court case on budget