MANILA – The Supreme Court has mandated both Congress and the Executive branch to respond to petitions contesting the constitutionality of Republic Act 12116, also known as the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2025.
This decision follows a petition for certiorari and prohibition submitted against Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Senate President Francis Escudero.
The Court has instructed the respondents to submit their comments on the petition within a strict timeframe of 10 days from the receipt of the notice, with no possibility of extension.
The petition was initiated by former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Isidro Ungab, and Rogelio Mendoza, who contend that the GAA is unconstitutional due to its failure to allocate mandatory funding for PhilHealth, its unlawful increase of appropriations beyond the President’s recommendations, and its prioritization of infrastructure funding over education.
Additionally, they claimed that the Bicameral Committee Report on the 2025 GAA General Appropriations Bill included blank items.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has consistently asserted that the 2025 national budget does not have any blank items, stating that he has thoroughly reviewed the extensive 4,000-page document of the 2025 GAA.
Senate President Escudero has also rejected the claims of irregularities in the 2025 GAA, labeling them as unjust accusations that overlook the comprehensive legislative process conducted by both chambers of Congress.
Acting Chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee Stella Quimbo, for her part, confirmed that the final enrolled bill contained no blanks and is accessible for public verification./PN
