Speaker on alleged budget misuse: ‘Those with sins can’t point fingers’

(From left) House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Vice President Sara Duterte and AKO BICOL Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co (File photos from RTVM/LIVE, Voltaire Domingo of Senate Social Media Unit, and Rep. Zaldy Co’s  Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Public officials who committed irregularities while on duty should not blame others for their mistakes, according to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In a speech Romualdez delivered during the opening of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill plenary deliberations on Monday, the House leader also said the chamber would not tolerate hypocrisy and those who “ignore their own misuse of public funds.”

READ: VP Duterte: Secret funds issue part of orchestrated attack vs me

“As legislators, we are not only guardians of the national purse but also stewards of the people’s trust,” the speaker emphasized.

“Every peso we allocate in this budget carries with it the sweat and sacrifice of millions of Filipinos, and it is our duty to ensure that these resources are spent wisely, effectively, and with absolute accountability,” he told lawmakers.

“We cannot ignore the reality that there are those who seek to undermine our work — critics who speak of accountability while conveniently ignoring their own misuse of public funds,” Romualdez noted.

“To these individuals, I say: Let us be clear — this chamber will not tolerate hypocrisy nor will it stand idle in the face of such blatant disregard for public trust,” he warned.

“Those who have their own sins cannot point fingers in front of Congress. Everyone will go through a correct process and no one will escape accountability,” he added in Filipino.

Romualdez likewise stressed that the House always stands by the principles of “transparency and accountability, contrary to what some may claim.”

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that every government agency’s expenditure is examined with careful scrutiny and that every program funded by the people’s money is aligned with the country’s priorities,” he said.

He further pointed out that the House “favors no one” and “does not bend to pressure or special interests.”

Romualdez did not mention names but on September 10, Vice President Sara Duterte released a video message alleging that the government budget is merely controlled by Romualdez and appropriations committee chairperson Rep. Zaldy Co.

Duterte said both lawmakers manipulate the budget for their own benefit.

On the same day, Duterte did not show up at the hearing for the budget of her office and she sent an explanation letter instead to Romualdez and Co.

No officials from her office likewise appeared during the proceeding.

Duterte also maintained that she responded to every question thrown at her regarding her office’s 2025 budget proposal, but that lawmakers simply did not like her replies.

Under its schedule, the House is expected to conduct the plenary debates for eight days from September 16 to 25.

It will tackle the budget of the Office of the Vice President on September 23.

The deliberations will start with the sponsorship speech of Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co.

The speech will be followed by debates on general principles and the deliberations on the budgets of the Department of Finance, Department of Justice, and National Economic and Development Authority, including their attached agencies, the judiciary, and other government units.