Marilyn Cahatol

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his statement on his State Visit to India and answers questions on pressing issues during the Kapihan with the Media at the Taj West End in Bengaluru, India, on August 8, 2025, before returning to the Philippines.  Noel Pabalate, PPA pool

Article (news)

MARCOS

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175723105809820250808-marcos-india-kapihan-NP15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. delivers his statement on his State Visit to India and answers questions on pressing issues during the Kapihan with the Media at the Taj West End in Bengaluru, India, on August 8, 2025, before returning to the Philippines. <em>Noel Pabalate, PPA pool </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged the sentiments of his Cabinet amid controversies hounding flood control projects and the proposed budget for next year.</p><p>At the beginning of his statement on Sunday, Sept. 7, before leaving for Cambodia for a three-day state visit, Marcos addressed the members of the Cabinet.</p><p>“I hope, lumamig na ‘yung mga ulo ninyo. But I will have to just say that I perfectly understand why you are feeling a little unjustly beleaguered,” he stated.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/9/5/marcos-to-push-for-stronger-economic-ties-fight-vs-transnational-crimes-in-cambodia-state-visit-1326">Marcos to tackle economic cooperation, fight vs transnational crimes in Cambodia state visit</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DO NOT JUDGE US, JUDGE YOURSELF FIRST</strong></div><p>When asked to confirm what the President meant, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said it was a reaction to the strongly worded statement he issued on Saturday, Sept. 6, blasting the House of Representatives.</p><p>Bersamin explained it was a unified statement of the Marcos Cabinet to object to the earlier plan of some House leaders to revert the 2026 National Expenditure Program to the Executive branch.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/3/house-leaders-to-send-back-poorly-constructed-national-budget-proposal-1640">House leaders to send back ‘poorly constructed’ national budget proposal</a></div><p>“We are not comfortable with it because the executive is put in a bad light,” he said in an ambush interview following Marcos&#x27; departure.</p><p>“We did not provoke anybody, but we just said that we are objecting to the announced objective of returning the NEP to us. That should not happen,” he added.</p><p>On Saturday, Sept. 6, Bersamin in a statement, decried &quot;certain members&quot; of the House of Representatives for “attempting to shift the blame for their own corruption and failures” onto the Executive Branch by pushing to revert the proposed national budget.</p><p>“Hence, we urge the House of Representatives to heed the demand of the people for full accountability: CLEAN YOUR HOUSE FIRST!” he had stated.</p><p>When asked what he meant by telling congressmen to clean their House first, Bersamin replied, “Maybe it was not meant to be sensationalized, but we do not like also to convey the idea that it&#x27;s a one-way street against us.&quot;</p><p>“So, we just came back with a natural mechanism for saying that do not judge us, judge yourselves first,” he added.</p><p>The Palace official also noted that Marcos does not want a re-enacted budget, calling it counterproductive.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/4/return-budget-proposal-to-palace-dbm-can-submit-errata-instead-senators-say-1113">Return budget proposal to Palace? DBM can submit errata instead, senators say</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>READY TO DEFEND</strong></div><p>Following his statement against the lower chamber, Bersamin said they are ready to defend the Office of the President’s proposed budget set on Monday, Sept. 8.</p><p>“Oh, walang problema kami. We always go there. We have been very consistent in cooperating with either house of the Congress. We have been open. We have not held back. If they want us to change some things, we change. We do not have objections,” he said.</p><p>“But the main matter here is the NEP should be the guidance, not the target of the Congress,” Bersamin added.</p><p>The Palace official noted that they “do not like to dictate on Congress on how it should act,&quot; saying that they respect the prerogative of Congress as an independent body.</p><p>“Well, of course, when we go there, we also have complete staff work, we have preparations. In fact, hindi rin kami nakakatulog dahil siyempre may agam-agam din about certain items. But the office of the President will be well-represented tomorrow. We are expected to be there in the early morning,” he stated.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/30/-ang-sama-talaga-puno-says-2026-nep-includes-proposed-funds-for-completed-infra-projects-0013">&#x27;Ang sama talaga&#x27;: Puno says 2026 NEP includes proposed funds for completed infra projects</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>INDEPENDENT COMMISSION TO BE FORMED WITHIN THE MONTH</strong></div><p>Bersamin also disclosed that they have already sent to Marcos the executive order forming the independent commission tasked to investigate the flood control anomalies, which he called a ‘very ideal’ body.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/5/dizon-to-erase-red-flags-in-proposed-2026-budget-for-dpwh-1045">Dizon to ‘erase red flags’ in proposed 2026 budget for DPWH</a></div><p>“Oh, I do not know if the President has already signed it, but we have given that a very serious study,” he said.</p><p>“We expect that in its final form, the executive order, will be welcomed by the people. That is what we are doing. Everything for the people,” Bersamin added.</p><p>When asked if it is expected to be formed within the month, the Palace official answered in the affirmative. </p><p>“Of course. I don&#x27;t know if the President has already signed the version sent to him. But that is how the president acts. He does not tell us until it was already before us,” he noted.</p><p>Bersamin deferred to the President in answering whether Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong is included in the roster, who earlier expressed willingness to be part of the independent body.</p><p>&quot;As to Mayor Magalong, he will always do justice to any job we give to him. The problem is we dont know is whether Magalong will welcome it. But we have not actually talked about it. There were many other names we have considered. I will not go beyond that. We leave that to the discretion of the President,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/1/marcos-says-finalizing-eo-creating-independent-body-for-flood-control-probe-1114">Marcos says finalizing EO creating independent body for flood control probe</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DGZV6Ac5xLw?si=_ou8-oUF6uDHkeK7" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged the sentiments of his Cabinet amid controversies hounding flood control projects and the proposed budget for next year.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. acknowledged the sentiments of his Cabinet amid controversies hounding flood control projects and the proposed budget for next year.

Marcos tells Cabinet after Bersamin blasts House: ‘I hope lumamig na ulo niyo’

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Marcos tells Cabinet after Bersamin blasts House: ‘I hope lumamig na ulo niyo’

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 07, 2025 04:09 PM PHT

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Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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Lucas Bersamin

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