President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Senator Mark Villar during the signing of the Maharlika Investment Fund bill. (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday evening expressed confidence that the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund Act will “withstand” judicial scrutiny.
Zubiri made this statement after the Supreme Court directed the executive and legislative branches of the government to submit their comments on the petition seeking to declare the Maharlika Investment Fund Act of 2023 as unconstitutional.
“We welcome the Supreme Court’s order for the executive and the legislative to file their comment[s] to the petition. It is part of the judicial process. I stand by my assertion that the Maharlika Investment Fund Act went through the proper legislative process, and will therefore withstand judicial scrutiny and be upheld as constitutional,” said Zubiri in a statement.
Zubiri added that he, along with other members of the upper chamber, respects any move to bring the controversial measure before the Supreme Court.
“I have already instructed the Senate Secretary to coordinate with the Office of the Solicitor General with regard to the preparation and filing of the comment, and we are ready to answer any questions and issues concerning the MIF Act of 2023,” he said.
“Ultimately, this is for the Supreme Court to decide, and we will respect the outcome, whatever it may be,” he stressed.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, along with three former Bayan Muna party-list lawmakers – Neri Colmenares, Ferdinand Gaite, and Carlos Zarate filed the petition before the Supreme Court in September, citing the “rushed” approval of the MIF bill.
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