SC moves GAA oral arguments a day earlier

The Supreme Court (SC) has moved the oral arguments on the consolidated petitions questioning provisions relating to unprogrammed funds and special accounts in the General Appropriation Acts (GAA) from 2024 to 2026 a day earlier.

In an advisory, the SC said the oral arguments will take place on April 7 and April 21 at the SC Baguio City Session Hall.

The SC previously scheduled the oral arguments on April 8 and April 22.

According to the SC, one of the petitions was filed by the late Albay representative Edcel Lagman, former Camarines Sur representative Gabriel Bordado Jr., former Basilan representative Mujiv Hataman, former senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and former Davao del Norte representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez.

They are seeking to declare as unconstitutional the bicameral insertion of P449.5 billion in the 2024 GAA, according to the SC.

Meanwhile, the second petition was filed by the Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement Inc., seeking to assail the amendments allegedly made to the Special Accounts in the General Fund and other appropriations in the 2025 GAA.

The third was filed by Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice and Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila De Lima. They questioned the constitutionality of unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 GAA. —AOL, GMA Integrated News