IGINIIT ni House Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, ng Zamboanga City na ang pagpasa ng panukalang badyet para ngayong taon ay hindi isang krimen.

“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. 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,” ani Dalipe.

Ginawa ni Dalipe ang pahayag bilang tugon sa pagsasampa ng reklamo laban sa kanya, at kina Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, at Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, dating chairman ng House Appropriations Committee, kaugnay ng umano’y mga blangko sa panukalang badyet.

Tinawag din ni Dalipe na “politically motivated” ang pagsasampa ng reklamo.

Ayon sa kanya, ang simpleng katotohanan na ang mga lider ng Kamara lamang ang sinampahan ng kaso ay nagpapataas ng seryosong tanong tungkol sa tunay na layunin sa likod ng naturang mga alegasyon.

“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,” wika pa niya.

“More telling is the involvement of former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as one of the complainants. As a sitting member of the House during the deliberations of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill, he had every opportunity to raise objections, question allocations, and point out any supposed infirmities during plenary discussions. Yet, he did not,” sabi pa ng kongresista.

“His silence during the legislative process, and his sudden emergence as a complainant, only reinforces the fact that these accusations are not grounded on actual violations but are politically motivated attacks meant to discredit the House leadership,” saad pa nito.

Pinuna rin ni Dalipe ang timing ng pagsasampa ng reklamo.

“It is also worth noting that these accusations come at a time when the House is taking a firm stand on accountability, particularly in addressing serious questions surrounding certain budgetary allocations,” sabi pa nito.

“The timing and nature of these attacks against the House raise suspicions that they are merely retaliatory tactics aimed at deflecting attention from the real issue: the proper and lawful use of taxpayer money,” ayon pa sa mambabatas.

Binigyang-diin niya na ang Kamara ay nananatiling tapat sa kanilang konstitusyonal na mandato, na tiyaking ang bawat piso sa pambansang badyet ay nagagamit nang wasto at para sa kapakinabangan ng bayan.

“We will not be swayed by political theatrics meant to divert attention from the real issues of transparency and accountability,” giit niya.

Muling iginiit ni Dalipe na walang anuman na kriminal sa pagpasa ng pambansang badyet.

“The approval of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) 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,” wika pa nito.

“It is important to emphasize that the passage of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 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,” saad pa ni Dalipe.