Executive Secretary Clarifies Criticism of House
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin addressed the House of Representatives on Monday, clarifying that his recent criticism was meant to highlight the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches. His remarks came during the hearing for the Office of the President’s proposed 2026 budget before the House Committee on Appropriations.
During the session, Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan questioned Bersamin about his weekend statement accusing some lawmakers of deflecting blame for corruption and budget failures. Libanan initially sought to halt deliberations on the budget but agreed to first have Bersamin respond to the concerns.
Institutional Courtesy and Pressing Clarifications
Libanan acknowledged the tradition of extending institutional and parliamentary courtesy to the Office of the President but emphasized the need to clarify pressing issues for public understanding. “Two days ago, we received, we saw a statement in the media from the Office of the Executive Secretary, and now he’s here, we want to ask him about it,” he said.
In response, Bersamin explained that the statement represented a consensus within President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet. He stressed that the message was intended to reinforce the separation of powers between the legislative and executive branches, particularly in light of remarks by some House members that the Cabinet viewed as undermining this division.
Cabinet’s Strong Objection to Accusations
On Saturday, Bersamin declared the Cabinet’s strong objection to what he described as attempts by certain House members to shift blame for corruption and procedural failures onto the Executive branch. “The members of the Cabinet would not tolerate any attack on the integrity and reputation of the executive branch and any effort to hold the budget process hostage by political theatrics,” he said.
He further urged the House to prioritize accountability, stating, “All our investigations into the anomalies will be futile if the sources of corruption remain unchecked. Hence, we urge the House of Representatives to heed the demand of the people for full accountability: Clean your house first!”
Emphasizing Cooperation, Not Conflict
On Monday, Bersamin assured lawmakers that his statement carried no malice. “It was more to emphasize our constitutional position and separation, and to elicit cooperation and support from the House of Representatives, more than any other,” he explained.
He added, “We do not intend that to rile up the tension between our departments as we have emphasized at the opening statement. We come here seeking your support for our institutional budget.” Bersamin concluded by saying, “There is nothing intended that is malicious or to malign any House of Representatives.”
Background on Budget Deliberations and Issues
Though Bersamin did not specify which lawmakers or events prompted his remarks, officials noted that last Wednesday, House party leaders, led by Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno, proposed returning the National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) due to various budgetary issues.
These problems included the allocation of funds for completed projects within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), an issue also flagged by Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro. Puno found that DPWH programs at the district level were still receiving allocations despite project completion.
Additionally, Puno reviewed his district’s allocations and discovered that projects from the DPWH’s district and regional engineering offices were no longer included in the NEP. The following day, Palawan 2nd District Rep. Jose Alvarez said party leaders withdrew their proposal after the DPWH and DBM promised to resolve the concerns.
In a brief interview on Thursday, Alvarez shared that Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon personally contacted the House to address the issues, signaling a commitment to cooperation.
For more news and updates on separation of powers between the legislative, visit Filipinokami.com.
