SC asked: Declare insertion of unprogrammed funds illegal

Bayan Muna party-list has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to declare as unconstitutional the insertion of unprogrammed funds in the 2024 national budget.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

Bayan Muna filed the petition yesterday, questioning the additional P449.5-billion unprogrammed funds in the 2024 budget when the executive branch originally requested only P281.9 billion.

Named as respondents were President Marcos, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, the Senate and House of Representatives.

“The petitioners question the constitutionality of three government actions: the presidential certification of urgency, the power of the bicameral conference committee to insert items in the budget and the resulting congressional increase in the budget submitted by the President,” the party-list group said.

Bayan Muna said that Congress, through the bicameral conference committee, increased the unprogrammed funds in the 2024 budget, saying it cannot increase the amount of appropriations recommended by the President.

“The increase becomes more insidious not only because it is reserved for pork barrel projects, but also increases our national debt and budget deficit, making it a monster pork barrel,” it stated.

Bayan Muna said the bicameral conference committee has been abusing its power to insert provisions not contained in the approved bills.