The Supreme Court has issued a directive to both Congress and the Executive branch to respond to a legal challenge against the constitutionality of Republic Act 12116, known as the General Appropriations Act (GAA). This directive came during a full court session on Tuesday, where the justices reviewed a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed against key government figures including Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Senate President Francis Escudero. The court has set a strict 10-day deadline for these officials to submit their comments on the petition.
The petitioners, former executive secretary Victor Rodriguez, Isidro Ungab, and Rogelio Mendoza, claim that the GAA violates the constitution by not providing required funding for PhilHealth, unlawfully increasing budget allocations beyond what the President recommended, and prioritizing infrastructure over education in budget allocations. They further allege that the Bicameral Committee Report on the 2025 GAA contained unfilled sections.
In response, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has firmly denied the presence of any blank items in the 2025 national budget. Speaking at the 20th National Convention of Lawyers in Cebu City on January 30, Marcos detailed his thorough review of the 2025 GAA, which spanned over 4,000 pages. He stated, “Just last month, I had to read 4,057 pages of the General Appropriations Act for 2025 because I reviewed it, analyzed it, and yes, in parts, vetoed it.”
Senate President Francis Escudero has also refuted the claims of irregularities in the 2025 GAA, describing them as baseless attacks that overlook the rigorous legislative process conducted by both chambers of Congress. Additionally, Acting House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Stella Quimbo confirmed on Monday that the final version of the bill contained no blanks and was open for public scrutiny.