Malacañang on Tuesday urged public officials to avoid making unfounded claims after Senator Imee Marcos alleged that her budget requests for public service projects were often rejected or marked “for later release,” which she referred to as “FLR” — meaning “First Lady Reject.”

In a statement, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro cautioned against spreading insinuations without evidence, saying such remarks could undermine the government’s integrity.

“Unang-una sana ay pigilan. Pigilan nila lalong-lalo na ang mga public servants, pigilan nila magbigay ng insinuations ng walang ebidensiya. Kasi ang mga insinuation na ito na wala namang ebidensya ay makakasira lamang sa naging trabaho ng gobyerno,” Castro said.

Castro also responded to Marcos’ remarks by asking whether the senator was admitting to seeking budget insertions. “Kung sinasabi niyang siya ay nagrerequest, inaamin ba niya na may insertions na siyang gusto niya sanang ipa-release?” she said.

Citing information from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Castro explained that funds included in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) are automatically covered by a “comprehensive release,” meaning they should not fall under “for later release” unless they are congressional insertions.

“Nakausap natin ang DBM at sinasabi nila na kapag ang budget ay nagmula sa NEP ito ay may comprehensive release. So malamang ito ay congressional insertion,” she said.

Castro further noted that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had ordered stricter oversight of the national budget to prevent misuse.

“May pinag-utos ang pangulo para maingatan ang budget. May mga congressional insertion na napansin o nakita na umaabot halos 797 billion pesos na ipinalagay ng pangulo for conditional implementation. Ibig sabihin hindi ito mairerelease nang hindi kompleto ang dokumento para ito [ay] mai-release,” she said.

Castro added that according to the President, only the implementing agency — through its department head or secretary — can make official funding requests, which must be supported by proper documentation and a certification from the Bureau of the Treasury confirming actual excess revenues.

“According to BBM ang proseso dapat ay ang magrerequest ay ang implementing agency through the department head or secretary. Dapat may kompletong dokumento at dumaan sa masusing evaluation, at may certification ng Bureau of Treasury na may actual excess and revenues,” Castro said.

She clarified, however, that the Palace does not intend to block projects that are legitimate and beneficial to the public.

“Kapag ito naman ay naipakita at kompleto, hindi naman hahadlangan, lalong-lalo na kung ito naman ay proyekto para sa publiko,” she concluded