Manila: Malaca±ang on Saturday issued a strong statement accusing some lawmakers of attempting to shift the blame onto the executive branch rather than owning up to their alleged corruption and failures. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin highlighted the Cabinet's firm objection to what he described as misleading narratives being propagated by certain members of the House of Representatives.

According to Philippines News Agency, Bersamin's remarks followed a recommendation by House party leaders to return the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which outlines a proposed PHP6.793-trillion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This move was initially considered due to alleged discrepancies within the budget proposal.

Bersamin emphasized that the Cabinet would not tolerate any attempts to tarnish the integrity and reputation of the Executive Branch or to manipulate the budget process for political gain. Despite initial plans to send the 2026 NEP back to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), House leaders eventually decided to allow relevant agencies to address the highlighted issues within the proposed budget.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had earlier called for a comprehensive review of the Department of Public Works and Highway's (DPWH) proposed 2026 budget, citing concerns about potential double entries and project insertions. In response, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon committed to resolving these issues by the end of a two-week deadline, utilizing errata to amend the 2026 NEP.

During the ongoing review, Bersamin urged House lawmakers to focus on internal reforms, stating, "All our investigations into the anomalies will be futile if the sources of corruption remain unchecked." He further called on the House of Representatives to meet the public's demand for full accountability.