MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to include Chito Bulatao Balintay’s name in the official ballot for Zambales Governor.
“The SC directed the Comelec to accept Balintay’s certificate of candidacy (COC) and include his name in the official ballot for the 2025 elections,” the High Court stated in its ruling, granting Balintay’s petition.
According to the SC, Balintay filed his COC on the last day of filing, 25 minutes before the deadline. However, it was deemed incomplete as it lacked a required fifth copy and documentary stamps.
He was advised to complete the missing documents, but by the time he returned, it was already three minutes past the 5:00 p.m. deadline.
The SC ruled that Comelec committed grave abuse of discretion by rejecting Balintay’s COC.
It further emphasized that “Comelec should reexamine whether its rules serve the interest of justice and fair play.”
“The SC found that Comelec’s strict application of its rules was unjustified, warranting the reversal of its decision.”
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MANILA – The Solicitor General’s Office (OSG) will represent the Senate in Supreme Court petitions regarding the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, confirmed Senate President Francis Escudero.
At a press conference in Quezon City, Escudero shared that he had referred to the OSG a petition from Duterte’s allies seeking to halt the Senate impeachment proceedings. Duterte herself has filed a petition challenging the impeachment complaint’s constitutionality, and another petition last week urged the SC to compel the Senate to convene as an impeachment court.
Escudero clarified that the Senate would not prepare a direct response to the petition for mandamus. “We referred this matter to the Solicitor General’s Office, as they represent the government. The OSG will handle and respond to the case for the Senate,” he explained.
While the Senate legal team drafted an advisory for Escudero’s review, it will be forwarded to the OSG for consideration.
Escudero also confirmed separate petitions from Davao City councilors and Vice President Duterte herself for certiorari before the SC. He suggested the Senate’s recess may have been timely, allowing the SC to resolve these issues before the impeachment trial proceeds, avoiding further delays.
The Senate, Escudero reiterated, intends to continue fulfilling its constitutional duties unless the SC issues a restraining order or preliminary injunction.
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By Celeste Tamayo
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio has filed a petition seeking to nullify the fourth impeachment complaint, which was lodged by 215 members of the House of Representatives.
Duterte-Carpio submitted a petition for certiorari and prohibition, along with an urgent application for a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction, on February 18.
The petition seeks “judicial intervention from the High Court to uphold due process and raises serious legal and constitutional concerns.”
Her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is among the lawyers representing her in the impeachment case.
Meanwhile, Bayan Muna Chairperson Atty. Neri Colmenares submitted a position paper to the Senate calling for the convening of an impeachment trial for Duterte-Carpio.
Senate President Chiz Escudero has stated that there will be no impeachment trial during the session break.
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MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Senate to comment on a petition calling for immediate action on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Catalino Generillo Jr., a former special counsel of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, filed the petition for mandamus, urging the SC to compel the Senate to constitute itself as an impeachment court and proceed with the trial.
The SC has given the Senate 10 days to respond to the petition. Generillo argues that the Constitution requires the Senate to act swiftly, even during recess, in deciding whether to form an impeachment court for the Vice President.
The impeachment articles were transmitted to the Senate on February 5. However, Congress adjourned on February 8 and will resume sessions from June 2 to 13, with a sine die adjournment on June 14.
Senate President Francis Escudero has indicated that the impeachment trial is unlikely to take place until after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address in July, citing the focus of several senators on their reelection campaigns during the break.
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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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MANILA — The Supreme Court is set to address a critical legal dispute over a controversial provision in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), which permits the government to tap surplus funds from state-owned corporations.
Oral arguments for two petitions, scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 4, will examine claims that this provision gives the executive branch unchecked spending authority.
At the heart of the petitions is Special Provision No. 1(d) in the Unprogrammed Appropriations, which allows the government to use surplus funds from government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) to finance certain projects.
Critics argue that this provision, potentially enacted improperly, undermines constitutional budgetary processes, violates the separation of powers, and compromises fiscal transparency.
The first petition was filed by former Senate president Aquilino Pimentel III, along with labor and civil society groups such as Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa and the Public Services Labor Independent Confederation Foundation Inc., as well as the Philippine Medical Association.
Legal experts, including Dante Gatmaytan and Ibarra Gutierrez, have also joined the petition.
A separate petition, backed by left-wing political figures from Bayan Muna—Neri Colmenares, Teodoro Casiño, Carlos Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite—also challenges the provision.
The respondents in the case include key government officials, such as Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senate President Francis Escudero, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and PhilHealth President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was named in the second petition.
The petitioners argue that the provision allows the executive branch to reallocate funds outside the normal congressional appropriations process, potentially violating the Constitution’s provisions on budget execution and fund transfers.
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MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has accused those challenging the constitutionality of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) before the Supreme Court (SC) of attempting to destabilize the government.
Speaking in Lapu-Lapu City on Thursday (30 Jan 2025), Marcos said that if the SC rules against the budget, there is no contingency plan in place. He added that this would be a deliberate attempt to paralyze government operations.
Marcos dismissed the petitioners’ claims, which challenge the legality of certain provisions in the 2025 budget, particularly alleging “blank items” in the bicameral report that could undermine transparency.
“Their assertion is very difficult to defend,” he said, expressing confidence in the strength of the government’s position.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, who will represent the government in the case, assured that the budget is on solid constitutional ground.
Despite the petition, Guevarra emphasized that the constitutionality of the 2025 GAA is legally presumed until proven otherwise.
The petitioners, including Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab and former government officials, argue that the lack of specific details in the budget undermines fiscal accountability.
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By Liezelle Soriano
The Supreme Court has issued guidelines directing all courts, judiciary offices, Justices, judges, court officials, and employees to observe strict security protocols, remain vigilant in identifying and reporting suspicious cyber activities, and adopt a set of guidelines on the observance of proper cyber hygiene.
Acting Chief Justice Marvic Leonen signed Administrative Order No. 150-2023 to minimize the incident of cyber threats, ordering the judiciary not to open unknown links sent in email; practice routine changing of passwords, and report suspicious activities.
“Judiciary employees should be cautious when sharing their personal information online and they should only use applications from trusted sources,” said Leonen.
“Additionally, Judiciary employees should read the privacy policy of any application before using it and should be aware of how their data will be used. By taking these precautions, Judiciary employees can help protect themselves from potential privacy and security risks,” he added.
Earlier, systems of government agencies and the website of the House of Representatives have been hacked.
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Image Courtesy of: Benjie Cuaresma
BAYAN Muna officials led by Neri Colmerares, BM Rep. Isagani Zarate, and Ferdinand Gaite, lodged a petition on Monday at the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the full implementation of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).
They submitted their request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Republic Act 11954, which established the Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023.
President Bongbong Marcos Jr. signed RA 11954 into law in July 2023, despite facing strong opposition from lawmakers, business groups, economists, and the academic community.
The attached images feature the Bayan Muna officials as they presented their petition to the Supreme Court on Padre Faura St. in Ermita, Manila.
(Benjie Cuaresma/ai/mnm)