MANILA – Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday clarified concerns regarding claims of irregularities in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), providing insights on current legislative processes.
Escudero dismissed speculations regarding blank entries in budget documents, emphasizing the legal precedence that only the final enrolled bill, signed by the President, is subject to constitutional scrutiny.
He said no bicameral conference committee or committee report has ever been declared unconstitutional, reiterating that the judiciary only reviews laws.
“The enrolled bill signed by the President and legislative leaders is what governs. Any blank spaces or typographical errors in the GAA cannot be released by the Department of Budget and Management or the National Treasury,” he said in a press briefing.
He labeled claims of a “blank check” by Congress as baseless and misleading.
The Senate President also expressed concern over the politicization of budget issues, speculating that such disputes may be driven by the approaching election season.
“Political motivations are increasingly evident, and we can expect more attacks and criticisms in the coming days,” he noted.
He likewise clarified that the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate are authorized to make corrections or add details to the report to ensure accuracy.
Escudero also emphasized that if there is any conflict between the GAA and the bicameral report, the GAA, as the enrolled bill, prevails.
He also said only laws like the GAA can be declared unconstitutional and never the bicameral conference committee report.
Drawing from Supreme Court decisions, Escudero reiterated the precedence of the enrolled bill, which bears the signatures of the House Speaker, Senate President, Secretary General of both chambers, and the President of the Philippines.
“The Supreme Court has long established that the enrolled bill—the signed version of the law—governs,” he said.
Escudero assured the public that the budget process is transparent and compliant with constitutional standards, urging critics to review the established procedures and decisions of the courts regarding budget laws. (PNA)