Makabayan bloc reiterates: Maharlika bill’s swift passage unconstitutional

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc on Saturday asserted that the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) is unconstitutional after the Supreme Court dismissed the bloc’s petition questioning the bill’s fast passage in the House of Representatives.

“We stand by our assertion that the President’s certification of the measure as urgent did not explicitly spell out any public calamity nor emergency, in violation of Article VI Section 26 (2) of the Constitution. The controversial bill was also passed on second and third reading on the same day, violating the rules of procedure of the House of Representatives which state that no bill must be approved on second and third reading on the same day,” said the Makabayan bloc in a joint statement.

READ: SC junks petition vs. Maharlika Fund; Makabayan bloc appeals ruling

According to one of the petitioners, Bayan Muna chair Neri Colmenares, Malacañang certifying the bill “was useless and a blatant abuse of power because up till now after almost five months of its issuance, the MIF is still not finalized and is yet to be discussed in the Senate.”

Elaborating on what makes Makabayan Maharlika Fund unconstitutional, Colmenares said that rushing the bill did not allow representatives to properly scrutinize it, leading to dubious gaps in the bill, such as the lack of independence by making the Finance Secretary, a presidential appointee, the head of the MIF’s board members.

“The MIF remains untransparent no different from the way the bill was approved without genuine consultations and hearings.  Its exemptions from various laws and lack of regulatory restrictions make it worse,” said Colmenares.

The Malabayan bloc is set to file for reconsideration.

RELATED STORIES

Marcos Jr. approves Maharlika fund, 10 other bills as Ledac priority measures

Congress vows passage of Maharlika, wage bills

Maharlika is food-poor

je