House Speaker apologizes to Senate President over budget remarks

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano apologized to Senate President Vicente Sotto III for remarks that seemed to shift blame to the Senate for potential delays in the P4.5-trillion national budget's 2021 approval.

Cayetano stated that his intention was not to blame the Senate but to clarify that the House of Representatives would not be responsible for any delay as they completed their part quickly.

He apologized if his statements were misconstrued by the media, explaining that the context was that any budget reenactment would not be the House's fault.

Sotto accepted Cayetano's apology, and the Senate will continue its work on the budget.

Cayetano committed to submitting the proposed budget copies by November 5, which Sotto believes will aid the Senate Finance Committee.

The Speaker had earned senators' ire when he and his allies moved to hastily approve the 2021 budget on 2nd reading before suspending sessions until November 16.