THE Supreme Court has ordered Congress and the Executive branch to respond to petitions questioning the constitutionality of Republic Act 12116, also known as the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
During its en banc session on Tuesday, the SC took action on a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed against Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Senate President Francis Escudero.
The Court instructed the respondents to submit their comments within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receiving the notice.
The petition, filed by former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Isidro Ungab, and Rogelio Mendoza, argues that the GAA is unconstitutional for failing to allocate mandatory funding for PhilHealth, unlawfully increasing appropriations beyond the President’s recommendations, and prioritizing infrastructure spending over education. They also claimed that the Bicameral Committee Report on the 2025 GAA contained blank items.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has denied these claims, emphasizing that the budget contains no blank allocations. Speaking at a lawyers’ convention in Cebu, Marcos said he personally reviewed the 4,057-page GAA and even vetoed certain provisions.
Senator Escudero also dismissed the allegations, while House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Stella Quimbo assured that the final enrolled bill is complete and available for public scrutiny.
