The Supreme Court will continue oral arguments today on alleged insertions in national budgets from 2024 to this year, with additional resource persons invited and documents to scrutinize. Former Albay governor Joey Salceda is expected to provide insights as an amicus curiae. Justices requested representatives from the DBM and DEPDev, along with lists of SAROs and data on the Road User’s Tax.
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court is continuing oral arguments on alleged insertions in the General Appropriations Acts (GAA) from 2024 to 2026. The hearings stem from four petitions seeking to declare unconstitutional provisions on unprogrammed appropriations and special accounts in the General Fund, particularly the 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.
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), specifically the DBM representative to the Development Budget Coordination Committee and the DEPDev representative to the Investment Coordination Committee.
Meanwhile, Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen instructed Berberabe to submit a detailed listing of all Special Allotment Release Orders (SARO) authorizing releases for unprogrammed appropriations from the 2024 to 2026 GAAs, which should match certificates of income from the Bureau of the Treasury. He also required data on the government’s usage of the Road User’s Tax in 2024 and 2025.
Economist and former Albay governor and congressman Joey Salceda is expected to provide insights as an amicus curiae.
