HINDI na naitago ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ang pagkapika sa mga bumabatikos sa 2025 General Approprioations Act (GAA).

Sa talumpati ni Pangulong Marcos sa 20th National Convention of Lawyers sa Cebu City, sinabi nito na binasa niya ang 4,057 pahina ng budget.

Giit ng Pangulo, wala siyang nakitang blank items.

“But let me tell you, as President, I am going to give you a run for your money. Just last month, I had to read 4,057 pages of the General Appropriations Act for 2025,” pahayag ni Pangulong Marcos.

“Because I reviewed it, analyzed it, and yes—in parts vetoed it. And so, for those of you and up to now I cannot find those damned blank items. We’ll keep looking, we’ll keep looking. But I don’t – I really I’m convinced that they simply do not exist because it is not allowed to exist,” dagdag ng Pangulo.

Una rito, dumulog sa Korte Suprema sina dating Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez at Congressman Isidro Ungab para ipawalang bisa ang budget dahil sa mga blank items sa bicameral conference committee report ng Kongreso.

“So for those of you who think that the Presidency is just handshakes, photo ops, I assure you, that fine print is alive in my office as well,” dagdag ni Pangulong Marcos.

Matatandaang tinanggal ni Pangulong Marcos sa GAA ang P194 bilyong line items dahil hindi malinaw kung anong mga programa ang paglalaanan ng pondo.