MANILA, Philippines– Vice President Sara Duterte accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the Philippines of mishandling investigations into alleged corruption related to the proposed 2025 national budget, questioning his approach and timing in addressing the probes.
Duterte made the accusation during a public event where she addressed issues surrounding the budget process and referred to ongoing inquiries into alleged irregularities in the preparation and allocation of funds for 2025.
She stated that officials under the Marcos administration handle corruption allegations in the 2025 budget in a manner she considers problematic and that undermines public trust in the government’s budget scrutiny.
Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate continued hearings and debates on the 2025 national budget, including provisions on confidential and intelligence funds, as they prepared to pass the appropriations measure.
Officials from the executive branch, including the Department of Budget and Management, attended legislative hearings and presented justifications for proposed allocations while responding to questions on transparency and anti-corruption safeguards.
The Office of the Vice President and other agencies that previously received confidential funds remained subject to scrutiny as legislators evaluated whether to maintain, reduce, or remove such allocations in upcoming budget laws.
