STOP THE LIES, PBBM TELLS DIGONG

Marcos, Duterte word war rages on

On Jan 21, 2025

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday, January 17, turned over 3,517 housing units in Yolanda-hit areas in Eastern Visayas, as part of the administration’s recovery program for calamity victims. “Ngayon, inihahandog namin ang mahigit tatlong libo at 3,500 bahay, bahagi ng mga proyektong matatapos na sa Leyte, sa Samar, at sa Biliran,” President Marcos said in his speech during the ceremonial turnover of Completed Yolanda Permanent Housing Projects in Leyte. President Marcos turned over the symbolic keys to Culaba Mayor Humphrey Olimba, Marabut Mayor Percival Ortillo, Tabon-Tabon Mayor Efren Redoña, and Tanauan Mayor Gina Merilo (PND/PCO)

FINALLY demonstrating uncharacteristic exasperation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., directly called former president, Rodrigo Duterte, a “liar” over the latter’s allegation of “missing” budget amount and “discrepancies” under the controversial 2025 national budget.

“He’s lying. He’s a president. He knows that you cannot pass a GAA with a blank… He’s lying,” President Marcos said, referring to Duterte, during an interview on January 20.

“And he’s lying because he knows perfectly well that that doesn’t ever happen,” the chief Executive added.

The reaction is wholly uncharacteristic as Pres. Marcos is known for being calm and respectful and of not disparaging anyone even during the years when the Marcoses are in political disgrace.

“Sa buong kasaysayan ng buong Pilipinas, hindi pinapayagan na magkaroon ng item ang GAA (general appropriations act) ng hindi nakalagay kung ano ‘yung project at saka ano ‘yung gastos, ano ‘yung pondo. So, it’s a lie,” according to the transcript released by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

The fresh word war erupted after Duterte and Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab claimed Congress had passed a “defective” Bicameral Conference Committee report of the budget during their session in late December.

This year’s national appropriations have been deemed as the ‘most corrupt budget’ in the country’s history by critics, prompting President Marcos to order its review before finally signing it on December 30.

In the approved version, President Marcos removed P194 billion from the allocations for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the ‘Unprogrammed Accounts’ in the proposed P6.352 trillion budget, saying they “inconsistent” with his administration’s priority programs. The final national budget amounted to P6.326 trillion (see also Pinoy Expose, December 31, 2024).

According to Ungab, there were missing budget amounts for items under the Department of Agriculture (DA) and unprogrammed appropriations thus rendering the Bicam report “defective.”

But the President said a copy of those items is available on the DBM (Department of Budget and Management) website.
“Mayroon namang kopya that’s available on the website of DBM.

“Tingnan ninyo, huwag na ninyong busisiin isa-isa, hanapin niyo ‘yung sinasabi nila na blank check,” the President said.

“Tingnan niyo kung mayroong kahit isa para mapatunayan na tama ang sinasabi ko [na] kasinungalingan ‘yan,” (allegation of Duterte) he added (statement credited to the Presidential News Desk).