SC to continue oral arguments on alleged budget insertions

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) today will continue tackling issues related to alleged insertions in the national budgets beginning 2024 up to this year, with additional resource persons invited and documents to be scrutinized.

Former Albay governor and congressman Joey Salceda, an economist, is expected to provide his insights during the oral arguments as an amicus curiae or an expert who can discuss issues raised before the court.

Meanwhile, Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa asked Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe for the appearance of representatives from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) in today’s oral arguments.

He particularly asked for the presence of a DBM representative to the Development Budget Coordination Committee and a DEPDev representative to the Investment Coordination Committee.

On the other hand, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen instructed Berberabe to “submit to the Court a listing of all the SAROs (special allotment release orders) authorizing release for the unprogrammed appropriations, as detailed as possible,” covering the General Appropriations Acts (GAA) from 2024 to 2026.

He also wanted the SAROs for the unprogrammed appropriations to “match or correspond… to a certificate of income or whatever the (Bureau of the Treasury) issues.”

In addition, Leonen required the Office of the Solicitor General to submit data on the government’s usage of the Road User’s Tax in 2024 and 2025.

The oral arguments on the alleged budget insertions from 2024 to 2026 stemmed from four petitions seeking to declare as unconstitutional provisions in the respective GAAs with respect to unprogrammed appropriations and special accounts in the General Fund, particularly Road User’s Tax.

Petitioners, including former and incumbent congressmen and civil society groups, accused Congress of inserting or expanding budget allocations beyond what the Constitution mandates.