SC urged to rule on standby fund petitions ahead of 2027 budget cycle

FORMER SENATE President Franklin M. Drilon on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to promptly resolve petitions challenging the constitutionality of unprogrammed funds in the 2024-2026 national budgets to help guide Congress as it prepares for the 2027 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

During the continuation of oral arguments on the consolidated cases questioning the unprogrammed funds and Special Accounts in the General Fund (SAGF) provisions in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 GAAs, Mr. Drilon, appearing as a friend of the court or amicus curiae, asked the SC to issue a ruling before deliberations on the next national budget begin.

“Given the context of our political situation today, I am making this manifestation to urge the honorable court, subject to your better judgment, to decide this case as early as possible, because the budget will be submitted to Congress 30 days from the State of the Nation Address,” Mr. Drilon told the Court.

“The decision of this court will provide guidance, not only to the government, but to the public in general,” he added.

Mr. Drilon said a prompt ruling would help clarify the constitutional parameters governing unprogrammed appropriations as lawmakers deliberate on the proposed 2027 national budget.

“We have witnessed for the past two weeks the political turmoil,” he said. “Senators have been charged, and they will be held to answer for whatever acts they have committed in contravention of the law.”

“That is why it’s critical, Your Honor, that this honorable court provide Congress and the public in general as to the guidelines of what is constitutional and what can be done with the unprogrammed appropriations,” he added, urging the SC not to wait until the end of the year.

The High Court continued oral arguments in four consolidated petitions challenging provisions relating to unprogrammed appropriations and the SAGF in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 spending plans.

Also appearing as amici curiae were former Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” B. Abad, former Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, and former Albay Rep. Jose Maria Clemente “Joey” S. Salceda.

The Supreme Court earlier scheduled the continuation of the oral arguments on June 2, June 9, and June 16.

The petitions seek to determine whether provisions governing unprogrammed appropriations and special accounts in recent national budgets comply with constitutional requirements on appropriations and public spending. — Mark Joseph M. Sanchez