SC asks Palace, legislators to submit 2025 budget bills
The Supreme Court has ordered the House of Representatives, the Senate and Malacañang to submit the original copies of the 2025 general appropriations bill (GAB) and the 2025 general appropriations enrolled bill ahead of the preliminary conference for a petition alleging “irregularities” in the national budget.
In an advisory dated Feb. 18, the high court directed that the documents be submitted in person no later than 12 noon on Feb. 24, four days before the preliminary conference on Feb. 28.
‘Unconstitutional’
The Supreme Court outlined the key issues to be tackled in the April 1 oral arguments for General Register No. 277975, filed by allies of former President Rodrigo Duterte against the House, represented by Speaker Martin Romualdez; the Senate, represented by Senate President Francis Escudero; and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.
In their petition for certiorari and prohibition, former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab and other petitioners claimed that the bicameral conference committee submitted a report containing blank items on the GAB, allegedly violating the 1987 Constitution.
They asked the high tribunal to declare Republic Act No. 12116, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2025, “unconstitutional.”
The GAB is the proposed law detailing the government’s budget and allocations for agencies, programs and projects. The bicameral report is the reconciled version of the budget bills from the House and Senate. Once signed by the President, the GAB becomes the GAA.
Meanwhile, the “enrolled bill” that the high court is requesting is the final version of the bill after both houses of Congress have given their final approval. It is printed and certified as correct by the secretary of the Senate and the secretary general of the House, then signed by the Speaker and the Senate President.
Discussion points
The key issues to be addressed during the upcoming oral arguments in Baguio City include:
- Whether the 2025 GAA violated the Constitution and the Universal Health Care Act by allocating zero funds to PhilHealth.
- Whether it breached the Constitution by increasing Congress’ budget beyond what was proposed in the National Expenditure Program recommended by the President.
- Whether the 2025 GAA violated Section 5(5), Article XIV of the Constitution by allegedly failing to prioritize education in the budget, and
- Whether the 2025 GAA was unconstitutional due to the bicameral committee allegedly submitting a report with blank items.
