MARCOS MUST RESIGN NOW: The President Bears Primary Responsibility for the Budget Scandal

 By Arnedo S. Valera, Esquire

In the face of the national scandal engulfing the allocation of flood-control funds and other infrastructure projects, one question demands an answer: Who bears the ultimate responsibility? The answer cannot be deflected—it rests squarely on the President. Under our Constitution, the power and duty to safeguard and defend the public treasury lie in his hands. When he fails, the entire nation suffers.

The Power of the Veto and Presidential Accountability

Article VI, Section 27(2) of the 1987 Constitution grants the President the authority to exercise a line-item veto over all appropriation bills. This power carries with it the duty to strike down any provision of the budget that is unjustified, excessive, or detrimental to the public interest.

Yet despite this clear constitutional authority, the President vetoed only a small fraction of the estimated ₱450 billion in questionable insertions. The bulk of these allocations—where allegations of corruption are rooted—he signed into law.

Here, the democratic maxim rings true: “The buck stops with the President.” Accountability cannot be passed on to others.

Constitutional Foundations of Responsibility

This is not merely a political issue; it is anchored on explicit constitutional mandates:

Article VII, Section 1: “The executive power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines.” The full weight of law enforcement and governance rests upon him.

Article XI, Section 2: The President may be removed by impeachment for “graft and corruption” and “betrayal of public trust.” His acceptance and ratification of the insertions at the heart of this scandal fall squarely within these grounds.

Simply put, the President cannot conceal his responsibility behind legislators, officials, or commissions he himself appointed. He signed the law. He bore the duty. He must be held accountable.

Investigating Himself: A False Path

Tragically, instead of owning responsibility, the President created an so-called Independent Commission to investigate the scandal. But how can a body he himself established, funded, and mandated be truly free and impartial?

This is nothing more than an attempt to investigate himself—a brazen insult to the intelligence and trust of the Filipino people.

Why “Marcos Resign” Is a Just Call

Under our system, there are only two legitimate paths to accountability:

1. Voluntary Resignation. When public trust is irreparably lost, the only honorable course is to step down. Resignation is not defeat—it is the recognition that democratic institutions must come before personal power.

2. Impeachment Proceedings. If he refuses to resign, Congress must fulfill its constitutional mandate under Article XI. Widespread corruption and betrayal of public trust provide more than sufficient grounds.

Yet beyond the legal framework, the voice of the people is unambiguous: MARCOS MUST RESIGN NOW.

The Filipino Nation Must Not Be Deceived

The President signed the budget. The President had the power to prevent this scandal. The President failed. And now, the President seeks to investigate himself.

Under these circumstances, there is only one just and patriotic course of action—his resignation. For under our Constitution, and before the eyes of history, accountability cannot be delegated. It must be faced.#