President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says alleged blank items in the 2025 national budget “simply do not exist,” defending the budget anew during the National Convention of Lawyers in Cebu City on Thursday, January 30.
“Just last month, I had to read 4,057 pages of the General Appropriations Act for 2025. Because I reviewed it, analyzed it, and yes—in parts, vetoed it. So for those of you, and up to now I can’t find those damned blank items.
“We’ll keep looking, we’ll keep looking. But I really am convinced that they simply do not exist because it is not allowed to exist.
“So for those of you who think that the presidency is just handshakes and photo ops, I assure you that fine print is alive in my office as well,” he said.
