DAILY TRIBUNE’s 24th January editorial manifested, in theory and practice, what this newspaper is known for. “Without fear or favor.”

It said that “the recent exchange of accusations between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and former President Rodrigo Duterte over alleged constitutional violations in the 2025 national budget has ignited a significant controversy,” where Duterte echoed Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab’s accusation that it contained unconstitutional “blanks,” suggesting a lack of transparency and the potential misuse of public funds.

PBBM has refuted this, “asserting that the budget underwent proper scrutiny and complies with constitutional requirements.” Impromptu, we heard clearly from the Chief Executive as he accused his predecessor of being untruthful, saying, “He’s lying and he is lying because he knows that you cannot pass the GAA with blanks,” and denied any notion of impropriety.

To belie the claim of Ungab, La Union 1st District Rep. Pablo Ortega V, deputy majority floor leader, strongly reacted and supported PBBM, saying the 2025 GAA “underwent a thorough and constitutional process.”

Injecting politics into a seemingly non-partisan look at the law that was signed in time to avoid a reenactment of last year’s budget, Ortega said that the former president’s accusation of blank appropriations was pure disinformation meant “to mislead the public and manipulate the budget process to bring back the confidential funds previously allocated to the Office of the Vice President.”

Returning senatorial wannabe and budget guru during his 18 years in the Senate, Ping Lacson, said the P6.326-trillion 2025 national budget was “mangled beyond recognition” and he agreed with the observation of some that this national appropriation is the most corrupt.

Lacson added that even Marcos himself stated that he could not see the National Expenditure Program in the budget that Congress passed.

I can’t disagree with the DAILY TRIBUNE editorial that said “this conflict raises important questions about accountability, governance and the political dynamics between two influential figures in Philippine politics.

“Representative Ungab’s assertion about ‘blanks’ in the budget refers to allocations that purportedly lack detailed appropriations or explicit purposes. The Constitution mandates that the national budget must be comprehensive and specific, ensuring that taxpayer money is allocated transparently and used effectively. If these blanks indeed existed, it would indicate a serious lapse in fiscal responsibility, potentially opening doors to corruption and inefficiency.

“Determining who is telling the truth in this dispute is complex. Both parties have vested political interests that may influence their statements.”

“The Commission on Audit, …. plays a crucial role in ensuring fiscal accountability. By thoroughly examining the 2025 national budget, the CoA can assess its compliance with constitutional requirements and verify whether the supposed blanks exist. An investigation would provide an impartial assessment, resolve the controversy, and restore public confidence in the budget process.”

There appears to be no doubt about the questions and observations coming out on the issue of “blanks” and we cannot sit idly by or take this matter for granted. It demands that our responsible officials show proof of the unassailability of the 2025 national budget.

Beware that a big deficit is going to be incurred and most Filipinos fear that the legislators came up with a budget that would serve, first and foremost, their obvious vested interest of attaining perpetuity in power. And truth matters.

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