MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday dismissed the petition challenging the constitutionality of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) before the Supreme Court (SC) as a deliberate attempt to destabilize the government.

Speaking to reporters in Lapu-Lapu City, Marcos admitted that the government has no contingency plan should the SC rule against the national budget.

“No, we shut down everything. I guess that’s what they want, they want the government to cease working so ‘yung matuloy yung kanilang mga destabilization na ginagawa (their destabilization efforts will continue),” he said.

The president said Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra would handle the government’s legal defense against the petition, which questions the legality of the 2025 national budget.

“The SolGen, of course, will be the one who will argue for the government, and he tells me, SolGen Meynard tells me that we are on a solid footing in terms of constitutionality,” Marcos said.

“I don’t know why they bother to file that because napakahirap ng kanilang assertion (their assertion is very difficult [to defend])… We’re very confident that our case is strong,” he added.

Petitioners question budget’s constitutionality

The petition was filed by Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab, former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, and other former government officials, who argue that certain provisions in the 2025 GAA violate the Constitution.

Among their concerns is the alleged presence of “blank items” in the bicameral report, which they claim undermines transparency and accountability in the budget process.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte also weighed in, saying that if the 2025 GAA indeed contains blank items, then it is “not a valid legislation.”

However, Marcos refuted Duterte’s claims, saying the former president was lying.

Guevarra, for his part, said he is prepared to defend the budget before the SC if required. He maintained that the 2025 GAA is legally presumed to be valid, regular, and constitutional.

Budget cuts spark controversy

The 2025 national budget has already faced criticism following the government’s decision to slash the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) subsidy and other appropriations.

Senators had urged Marcos to review these cuts, which contributed to delays in signing the budget last year.

Despite the legal challenge and public outrage, the administration remains firm in its stance that the budget was passed within constitutional bounds.