Approving the 2025 national budget is not a criminal act, House majority leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said Feb. 10.
“Passing the national budget is not a crime; it is a fundamental responsibility of Congress (House and Senate). Any attempt to portray it otherwise is a clear distortion of facts and an attack on the legislative process itself,” Dalipe said in a press release from the Office of the Speaker.
“Instead of engaging in political distractions, we must focus on ensuring that the 2025 budget is fair, responsive, and effectively serves the needs of the Filipino people,” he added.
He made the statement in reaction to the filing of criminal charges against him, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, in relation to the budget blanks controversy.
Dalipe also called the filing of the complaint politically-motivated.
He said the mere fact that only House leaders were accused in the complaint “raises serious questions about the true intent behind these allegations.”
“The budget process is a shared responsibility, yet the focus on one chamber alone suggests a deliberate effort to mislead the public and cast doubt on the integrity of the House’s work,” he claimed.
The House leader also questioned the timing of the filing of the complaint.
Dalipe reiterated that there is nothing criminal in passing the national budget.
“The approval of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill is not an act of wrongdoing but a constitutional duty of Congress. The national budget is the lifeblood of government operations, ensuring the delivery of essential services and the implementation of vital projects for the Filipino people,” he said.
“It is important to emphasize that the passage of the General Appropriations Act is not solely the action of the House of Representatives. It undergoes thorough deliberations and scrutiny by Congress before it is transmitted to the President for final approval. This process adheres to the checks and balances enshrined in our Constitution, ensuring transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility,” Dalipe added. ||
