The Malacañang on Wednesday, Aug. 4, clarified that only five bills were vetoed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and thus it cannot be called a “veto spree”.

In a report by Leth Narcisco on MBC Network News, Press Secretary Trixie Angeles-Cruz said in a press briefing that 41 out of the 46 proposed bills lapsed into law.

“Hindi po nagkaroon ng veto spree ang ating Pangulo. 41 bills lapsed into law and only 5 were vetoed, hindi kasama dun sa 41. It’s not a spree. Tinotono lang naman ng ating Pangulo dun sa mga sistema yung mga batas natin, lalung-lalo na iyong mga batas that involved some kind of tax break or tax benefits, itutono mo doon sa ating polisiya of tax reform,” she explained.

The following are the five bills that President Marcos vetoed: Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone; Office of the Government Corporation Counsel Charter; Davao Light and Power Company Inc. Franchise; Philippine Transportation Safety Board Act; Tax Exemption on Honoraria; Allowances and other benefits of poll workers in Election.

Among the 41 enrolled bills that lapsed into law are the Anti-online sexual abuse or exploitation of children act; Separate facility for heinous criminal act; the Increasing the pension of indigent senior citizens; Permanent validity of certificates of live birth, death, and marriage act; Vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products regulation act.

Senator Chiz Escudero on Monday called on President Marcos to urgently appoint a cabinet member who will lead the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) to avoid a “bill-vetoing spree” in Malacañang.

Escudero issued the statement after Marcos vetoed the five measures.