MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte is “exercising utmost care” in reviewing the 2019 national budget to make sure he would not sign anything unconstitutional, Malacañang said Friday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after Duterte threatened to veto the entire General Appropriations Bill (GAB).
READ: Duterte threatens to veto entire 2019 national budget
Panelo said the President’s remarks “contemplate a situation where if there is a finding by him of any legal or constitutional infirmity relative to the provisions of the same transmitted to his office by Congress then he will exercise his veto powers either in part or in toto.”
“In the light of the serious accusations hurled by the House and the Senate against each other on certain unconstitutional insertions, the Office of the President is exercising utmost care in the review and evaluation of the GAB,” he said.
“It is poring over the details of the document and checking which items therein may be constitutionally infirm or legally unacceptable pursuant to the President’s power and duty to ensure that the law is enforced and the Constitution is free from any violation,” Panelo added,
“As a lawyer and strict enforcer of the rule of law, Panelo said, “the President treads cautiously in performing his constitutional duty making sure that before he inks his signature to the document, the latter does not violate our Constitution, as well as related jurisprudence on the matter.”
Panelo also assured the public that government is prepared for the possibility of a whole-year re-enacted budget.
“As to the possible repercussion on the economy of a re-enacted budget, our economic managers have contingency plans prepared, responsive to any conceivable event, and they will correspondingly adjust their targets, which include the execution of programs and projects relating to infrastructure as well as the delivery of basic services to the people,” he said.
“While we are very eager and devoted to implement policies that will benefit Filipinos, this administration is equally committed to being a stickler for the rule of law,” Panelo added.
Sought for comment, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said in a Viber message that the signing of the budget is now “up to the President.”
“Whether he would veto the budget in its entirety, [It’s] up to the President for his decision,” he said. /muf