SC requests documents from Congress to explain Bicam changes in budget

The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the House of Representatives and the Senate to submit supporting documents to explain the changes introduced by the bicameral conference committee in the 2024 national budget.

Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said this during the oral arguments on unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024, 2025, and 2026 national budgets.

“In addition to the documents requested by Justice Ben, kindly request from the House and the Senate, your clients, whether there are supporting documents, once and for all,” Leonen said Tuesday.

Leonen noted that the General Appropriations Bill and Senate version of the 2024 budget were consistent with the National Expenditure Program.

However, he said the Bicam introduced an additional P400 or P500 billion.

In the absence of any supporting document, Leonen required the submission of a certification as well as an explanation on how Congress arrived at the allocations.

“Because what we see, collectively, was that there was centavos at the end. So we want to know how they are computed and why there are no documentation," Leonen said.

The justice, meanwhile, said that the petitioners may submit their manifestations.

“The petitioners are free to also comment because you do have members of the house with you. In fact the various petitions, and one of the counsels, have been a member of the house also,” he said.

For her part, Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe said they will comply.

This is over the consolidated petitions filed by former Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, Camarines Sur Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr., Basilan Representative Mujiv Hataman, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Congressman Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez; Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement Inc; and Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice and Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila De Lima. — BAP, GMA News