Senator Imee Marcos on Friday expressed disapproval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s plan to 'involve' himself in the Congress’ budget deliberations, warning that such intervention would be unconstitutional.

In a statement, Senator Marcos acknowledged the need for reforms in the national budget process but insisted that the executive branch must respect the constitutional powers of the legislative branch

“Parenthetically, once the OP has submitted the NEP to Congress, the power of the purse must be respected,” she said.

“The DBM statement that the president will involve himself in the budgetary process after the NEP is submitted is infirm and unconstitutional,” she added, referring to remarks by Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said that the President is actively monitoring the process of his administration’s budget for 2026, which is proposed to be at P11 trillion, a 20 percent increase from this year’s P9 trillion national budget.

Senator Marcos said next year’s budget must focus on critical sectors such as food security, education, health, and essential social services.

“The most important is reform in the budgetary process. Tigilan na ang mahiwagang bicam (end the mysterious bicam). The right priorities in spending, considering our recurring fiscal deficits and huge indebtedness, must be legislated: food security and support to our farmers and fishermen; education; health and truly necessary social services,” she said.

She also emphasized the need for electoral reforms, including political party reforms, which she said have become “mere tools for personal ambition rather than the public interest.”

“Above all, the Senate — as guardian of the national interest — must always be upheld, its independence non-negotiable,” she added.

The 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) has drawn controversy and is currently being challenged before the Supreme Court.

Petitioners argue that the GAA is unconstitutional for failing to allocate mandatory funding for PhilHealth, exceeding the President’s proposed appropriations, and giving the largest share to infrastructure over education. They also flagged blank items in the bicameral committee report on the final budget bill.