Ombudsman to create budget watch team, study SC ruling on 2024, 2025 budgets

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said he will create a team to look into current budget proceedings as well as the Supreme Court’s (SC) ruling that declared as unconstitutional the General Approrpations Act (GAA) for 2024 and 2025.

“Kaya nga ngayon we are starting the budget watch, pinapanood na natin iyan which didn’t happen before and dito with the decision, we will appoint a group, compose a group that will study the SC decision and the budgets that came with the decision,” Remulla said in an ambush interview.

(That’s why we are now starting the budget watch, monitoring it, which didn’t happen before. And in connection with the decision, we will appoint a group that will study the SC decision and the budgets that came with it.)

This came after the SC declared as unconstitutional the 2024 and 2025 GAAs due to budget increases made by Congress while it declared unconstitutional provisions under the 2026 GAA.

The SC also said that while the doctrine of operative fact applies, it does not shield authors, proponents, or implementors from criminal, civil, or administrative liability.

When asked about whether SC’s remark regarding the authors and implementors may lead to the President being held accountable, Remulla said that the action occurs inside Congress.

“Ang Presidente kasi just submits the bill, the proposed bill to Congress, the action goes on inside Congress and it’s very hard to follow the action, may kani-kaniyang tyempo sila eh especially those who are scheming, to add things and subtract things,” Remulla said.

(The President just submits the bill, the proposed bill, to Congress. The action takes place inside Congress, and it’s very hard to follow what happens because they each have their own timing, especially those who are scheming to add things and subtract things.) — RSJ, GMA News