MANILA, Philippines – Bumwelta ang Malakanyang sa ilang mga mambabatas sa tila pagpapalitaw na ang executive branch umano ang may kasalanan sa maanomalyang flood control projects.
“The Cabinet strongly objects to the recent spins coming from certain members of the House of Representatives who are thereby attempting to shift the blame for their own corruption and failures onto the Executive Branch,” saad sa pahayag ni Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin nitong Sabado, Setyembre 6.
“The Members of the Cabinet will not tolerate any attack on the integrity and reputation of the Executive Branch, and any effort to hold the budget process hostage by political theatrics,” dagdag pa.
Sinabi ng opisyal na ang lahat ng imbestigasyon sa mga anomalya “will be futile if the sources of corruption remain unchecked”.
“Hence, we urge the House of Representatives to heed the demand of the people for full accountability: CLEAN YOUR HOUSE FIRST!.”
Noong nakaraang linggo, sinabi ng mga lider ng Kamara na ibabalik nila ang 2026 National Expenditure Program sa Department of Budget and Management at tinawag na ‘poorly constructed’ kasama ang ‘suspicious’ flood control projects at mga isyu sa district budgets.
“We have decided as a group to recommend the return of the 2026 national budget to the DBM because we do not know how to deal with it. We have to practically redo the entire submission to us. And we do not want to be suspected of any untoward action,” ani House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno sa press briefing ng Kamara noong Setyembre 3.
Isang araw makalipas nito, binawi ng mga lider ng Kamara ang planong ibalik ang budget at ipagpatuloy ang budget deliberations at sinabi ni House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Rep. Jose Alvarez na pumapayag silang maghintay ng 10 araw para tugunan ng DBM at DPWH ang “mangled” entries sa 2026 proposed budget.
Ipinag-utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang pagsasagawa ng DBM at ni DPWH Sec. Vince Dizon ng malalim na pagsusuri sa badyet ng DPWH sa ilalim ng proposed 2026 National Expenditure Program upang matukoy kung nagkaroon nga ng mga insertion o duplication sa alokasyon na kailangang maalis. RNT/JGC
