For the first time under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Malacañang openly rebuked the House of Representatives on Saturday, accusing some lawmakers of trying to shift the blame for corruption and failures in the budget process to the executive branch.

In a strongly worded statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, speaking on behalf of the Cabinet, denounced what he called “recent spins from certain members of the House who are thereby attempting to shift the blame for their own corruption and failures onto the Executive branch.”

“The members of the Cabinet would not tolerate any attack on the integrity and reputation of the executive branch and any effort to hold the budget process hostage by political theatrics,” Bersamin said.

“All our investigations into the anomalies will be futile if the sources of corruption remain unchecked. Hence, we urge the House of Representatives to heed the demand of the people for full accountability: Clean your house first!” he added.

Bersamin’s remarks came days after House leaders, led by Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, floated the idea of returning the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP) to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), citing errors such as allocations for projects already completed and zero budgets for multi-year programs.

The NEP, prepared by the DBM, is the government’s spending blueprint and the basis for the General Appropriations Bill, which originates in the House before passage by Congress and approval by the President.

On Thursday, however, House leaders withdrew the proposal after DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon committed to correct the entries as ordered by Marcos.

House appropriations chair Mikaela Suansing confirmed that Dizon was given seven days to overhaul the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget.

The controversy comes as Congress, the Senate, and the Commission on Audit probe multi-billion peso flood control projects allegedly riddled with “ghost” and substandard works.

President Marcos himself earlier disclosed that only 15 contractors cornered over ₱100 billion worth of projects—nearly a fifth of the ₱545 billion allocated for flood mitigation from 2022 to 2025.

The DPWH, under Dizon’s leadership, has since reshuffled officials, suspended implicated offices, and formed an anti-corruption task force.

Malacañang also confirmed that Marcos is studying the creation of an independent commission to investigate irregularities in infrastructure projects.