Former Speaker and incumbent Davao Del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez on Tuesday (Jan. 28) said falsification of legislative documents, a criminal offense punishable under penal laws of the country, has been been committed by certain officials of Congress in connection with the ratification of blank pages contained in the bicameral committee report of 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Alvarez, a lawyer, cited the alleged recent confession of Marikina City Rep. Stella Quimbo, recently designated chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, about the issue as an evidence of the irregularity.

“Magpasalamat tayo sa honesty ni Cong. Stella. Yung pag amin niya sa nangyari, inamin niyang nagkaroon ng falsification of legislative documents. Ang parusa diyan pagkakakulong ng prision correcional kasama ang multa,” Alvarez said in a statement.

He was referring to Quimbo’s statement before members of the news media whereby he admitted that there were “indeed, blanks in the bicam report.”

Quimbo called the press conference to respond to criticism hurled against her alleged role in the presentation before the plenary of a proposed 2025 GAA that contained blanks.

According to Alvarez, Quimbo confessed to this fact but reasoned out that “filling up those blanks was merely ministerial on the part of technical staff.”

It will be recalled that on Jan. 18, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab exposed the alleged irregularities committed by the bicameral committee when it sent to the Senate and the Lower House copies of its report on the 2025 GAA that contained blanks.

Ungab was accompanied in the said expose by former President Rodrigo Duterte, former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez and lawyer Martin Delgra.

“And then, in the GAA, the blanks were suddenly gone and were replaced by considerable amounts and figures that were not approved by Congress,” noted Alvarez.

In claiming that certain leaders of Congress and the executive department may face criminal charges, Alvarez explained: “Ang nangyari, yung inapprove ng Congress na Bicam Report, maraming mga blanko. Ang total value ng mga blanko na iyan ay zero pesos. Pero bakit sa GAA may laman na, at yung laman hindi yan iprinesenta sa plenary para ma-ratify?”

“Based on Article 170 of the Revised Penal Code, Falsification of Legislative Documents is committed when: “any person who, without proper authority… alters any bill, resolution… enacted or approved or pending approval by either House of Congress..." he said.

“Ang malamang nangyari, yung mga Congressman sa Committee on Appropriations, inutusan yung mga staff, o sila na mismo, pinunuan nila yung blanko kahit na tapos na yung ratification. In other words, yung mga halagang ininsert nila diyan ay hindi approved ng plenary, kaya hindi authorized ng Congress. Sa madaling salita, walang authority yung paglagay nung amounts and figures. Krimen talaga yung ginawa,” the former House leader explained.

On Quimbo’s assertion that the act of filling up blanks was ministerial, Alvarez said this raises serious concern in the Lower House, adding that even former Senate President Vicente Sotto III aired misgivings over the Marikina solon’s statement.

“Some of our legislators need… parliamentary rules and procedures workshop. Ministerial corrections by technical staff are never allowed in any bill much more a law. You bring it back to plenary!” said Sotto.

Citing Sotto’s reaction. Alvarez commented: “Tama si dating Senate President Tito Sotto. Ang kapangyarihan magdagdag o bawas, sa laman ng Bicam Report na ipapasok sa GAA, ay Congress. Sa plenary dapat yan! Hindi puwede maging ministerial sa indibidwal o grupo ng Congressmen. Ang tanong, yung sinuksok nila sa budget, ratified ba yan ng plenary? At kung hindi, edi bakit sila naglagay diyan ng amounts?”