By ADRIAN STEWART CO
MANILA – Malacañang has put the spotlight back on legislators amid the ongoing budget controversy, accusing them of using political theatrics to deflect from their “own corruption and failures” as questions swirl around the P6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin delivered the rebuke after reports surfaced that House leaders were considering returning the proposed spending plan to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“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,” Bersamin said.
He added that the Cabinet “strongly objects to recent spins coming from certain members of the House of Representatives.”
The House later backtracked, allowing agencies instead to issue corrections on flagged provisions of the NEP. The controversy was sparked after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough review of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget following questions on duplicate entries and questionable insertions.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon have both committed to fix the irregularities within two weeks, noting that revisions will be transmitted as errata.
But Bersamin warned that lawmakers cannot wash their hands of the matter. “All our investigations into the anomalies will be futile if the sources of corruption remain unchecked,” he said, urging Congress to “clean [their] house first.”
He stressed: “Hence, we urge the House of Representatives to heed the demand of the people for full accountability.”/PN
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BERSAMIN
