Palace not surprised with SC decision on Syjuco petitions

MANILA, Philippines–Malacañang on Tuesday said it was not surprised with the Supreme Court’s decision to junk two petitions of a former lawmaker questioning the legality of the 2015 national budget.

“Sumusunod po tayo sa mga patakaran ng batas kaya hindi naman po tayo nabibigla na sumang-ayon ang Supreme Court (We follow the rule of law so we are not surprised that the Supreme Court agreed with our position),” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told Palace reporters.

Coloma said the executive has always followed the provisions of the Philippine Constitution.

The high court on Tuesday dismissed two petitions filed by former Iloilo Representative Augusto Syjuco Jr. against the P2.6-trillion 2015 national budget for lack of merit.

The former lawmaker argued that the national budget still included pork barrel funds. The court decision said Syjuco’s arguments were “hypothetical” or “mere academic questions.”

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