SENATE President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero, brushes off imputations of possible jail terms to those involved in the supposed signing into law of the 2025 national budget with blank items, saying what was presented to Malacañang last December for the President’s approval was just the bicameral conference committee report.
At his media briefing on January 22, Escudero stressed that not one was charged in any court for coming out with a committee report or ‘bicam’ report, but clarified that as a law, the General Appropriations Act of 2025 can be declared invalid or illegal if questioned in court.
“No bicameral conference committee report has yet been declared unconstitutional; no committee report has yet been declared unconstitutional.
“In fact, no one has yet been sued in court to declare a committee report or bicameral conference committee report unconstitutional,” Escudero pointed out.
“It is only a law that can be questioned as unconstitutional,” the Senate chief added (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau).