Marcos rejects Duterte's budget allegations claiming falsity

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has firmly refuted allegations made by former President Rodrigo Duterte regarding supposed 'blank checks' in the proposed 2025 national budget. In response to claims that certain items in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) were left blank, Marcos stated, 'He's lying. He's a president. He knows that you cannot pass a GAA with a blank.' He emphasized that the budget, which spans over 4,000 pages, underwent meticulous scrutiny and is accessible for public review on the Department of Budget and Management's website. Marcos encouraged the public to verify the claims themselves, asserting that no part of the budget is blank. The Executive Secretary also backed the president's statements, condemning the allegations as malicious misinformation. Overall, the administration stands united in defending the integrity of the 2025 budget against what they describe as unfounded accusations.