MANILA – The Supreme Court has instructed Congress and the Executive branch to submit their comments on a petition challenging the constitutionality of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), also known as RA 12116.
In its en banc session on Tuesday, the Court addressed the petition filed against Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Senate President Francis Escudero. The petitioners, former executive secretary Victor Rodriguez, Isidro Ungab, and Rogelio Mendoza, argue that the GAA violates the Constitution by failing to allocate mandatory funds for PhilHealth, unlawfully increasing appropriations beyond the President’s proposals, and prioritizing infrastructure over education.
They also claimed the 2025 GAA’s Bicameral Committee Report included blank items. However, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has repeatedly stated that no blank items exist in the national budget. He emphasized this during the 20th National Convention of Lawyers in Cebu on January 30, explaining that he personally reviewed all 4,057 pages of the bill before making veto decisions.
Escudero dismissed the accusations as unfounded, pointing to the extensive legislative process involved. On Monday, Acting House Appropriations Chair Stella Quimbo reassured the public that the final enrolled bill contained no blank items and was open for verification.
The SC has set a 10-day deadline for Congress and the Executive to respond.
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