Palace: Duterte to scrutinize Congress’ transmitted budget bill

(Eagle News)–The Palace on Tuesday, March 26, gave the assurance President Rodrigo Duterte would scrutinize the General Appropriations Bill and would  sign it should the same be in accordance with “our Constitution and the laws.”

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made the comment as he commended the Senate and the House of Representatives for ending the budget impasse and transmitting a General Appropriations Bill to Malacañang.

Senate President Tito Sotto signed the House’s enrolled budget bill as is but with reservations, maintaining the “alignments” made by the House in the version already ratified by the two chambers of Congress were “unconstitutional.”

He said President Duterte, whose signature is required for the bill to become a law, had  the option to veto the same.

“As we approach the midpoint of the Duterte Administration, we remain determined to build on the significant gains that we have started in the first two-and-a-half years and continue to stay on the right track to deliver real and lasting change to our people,” Panelo said.