Senate President Chiz Escudero reassured the public that the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) report on the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) was properly processed, addressing concerns ahead of the Supreme Court hearings on the budget’s constitutionality.
At a forum on Wednesday, Escudero emphasized that both the Senate and the House followed due process when they finalized the budget.
“The Bicam report was clear. We authorized the finance and appropriations committees to fill in any gaps and make necessary corrections since the budget bill had over 200,000 lines. If we had to go back to the Bicam for every blank space, we would never finish. The authority was granted within the committee’s parameters,” Escudero explained.
Escudero confirmed the Solicitor General (SolGen) will represent Congress in the oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the petition challenging the 2025 GAA’s constitutionality.
“We have spoken with the SolGen, and they assured us they will handle the case and present Congress’ position,” Escudero said in Filipino.
He said the SolGen’s recusal from a case involving former President Rodrigo Duterte would not affect this case.
Escudero also clarified his role in the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Unlike a presidential impeachment over which the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court would preside, in the impeachment of the VP the Senate President would preside.
“Under the Constitution, the Chief Justice only presides over a presidential impeachment. For other impeachable officials, including the Vice President, the Senate President serves as the presiding officer,” he noted.
A seasoned lawyer, Escudero said he has been reviewing legal rules and procedures to prepare for the trial.
“Even though I am a lawyer, I am studying the rules of evidence and criminal and civil procedures again. It’s best to sharpen my knowledge, and I advise the Senate members, as well as the prosecution panel, to do the same,” he said.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the budget case on 1 April.