00:00The 2025 national budget was defended by the lawmakers after it was questioned in the Supreme Court by some personalities.
00:08Mel Alasmoraz is back.
00:13There is no problem for Senate President Francis Escudero even if it was formally questioned in the Supreme Court,
00:19the 2025 General Appropriations Act.
00:22According to Escudero, it should not be a threat, especially since it is just a part of democracy.
00:29For me, this is an opportunity to get involved in the process of the budget.
00:33The Supreme Court, the third branch of the government,
00:36we have seen the role played by the Executive Branch, the Legislative Branch,
00:41and now we will see the role played by the Judicial Branch.
00:45House Speaker Martin Lumaldes did not comment on the issue because he will study the petition first.
00:52According to House Deputy Majority Leader Paulo Ortega,
00:56this is a legal maneuver.
00:58He considers this a political gambit that aims to destroy the administration.
01:03Other lawmakers also commented on this.
01:07That's within their right. Anybody can, this is a free country, they can question anything under the sun.
01:12I don't see any unconstitutional provisions being acted on.
01:15When it comes to the budget, we really need to be transparent
01:21from the committee level to the bicameral conference committee.
01:26That's why we told our fellow countrymen that this should be transparent and visible to the people
01:31so that there is no doubt.
01:34The House Committee on Appropriations Acting Chair Stella Quimbo
01:38first decided that the 2025 National Budget should be legal and beneficial to the people.
01:43Even if there are questions here, she insisted that this should go through the right process.
01:50There is no problem with our 2025 GAA.
01:54It is legal. It is fully enforceable. It is valid.
01:59Because our Enrolled Bill, the General Appropriations Bill
02:06that came from the Congress is complete. There is no plan.
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