Lacson backs Marcos as budget deliberation observer, but Hontiveros apprehensive

Metro Manila, Philippines - Senator-elect Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed differing views on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s plan to observe the budget deliberations.

The Department of Budget and Management earlier said the chief executive will monitor the entire budget process to ensure it is aligned with government priorities.

Lacson said he supports the president's decision as long as he will not participate in the bicameral conference discussions.

“It will send a clear and very strong signal to the members of Congress not to make a mockery of our role in the budget process and that we should not treat the national budget as individual prerogatives, not aligned with the policy direction of the administration towards achieving the country’s development goals in 2026 and beyond,” the returning senator said in a statement on Wednesday, May 21.

But Hontiveros said the executive branch’s role is to send a National Expenditure Program – which the Congress will deliberate – and then sign or veto a line item.

“The power of the purse is wielded by Congress and Congress alone,” she said in a media forum.

“Walang papel ang presidente bilang observer sa bicam sa Konstitusyon. 'Pag pinilit 'yan baka magkaroon pa sila ng problema, baka kasuhan sila… It's their call but I think it's wrong,” Hontiveros added, noting that there are still concerns on the 2025 national budget.

[Translation: Under the Constitution, the president has no role as an observer in the bicameral conference discussions. If they insist, they may face problems, including a complaint.]

The constitutionality of the P6.3-trillion 2025 national budget has been challenged at the Supreme Court.

READ: ‘Biggest money heist’: Budget law constitutionality questioned in court

Critics have questioned blank allocations in the bicameral report and the zero subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. among other issues.

NewsWatch Plus correspondent Daniza Fernandez contributed to this report.