Former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson. INQUIRER file photo
MANILA, Philippines — Similar to Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s stand, former Senator Ping Lacson said the bicameral conference committee’s move to add a P450 billion increase to the unprogrammed appropriations of the 2024 budget is unconstitutional.
Citing Article VI Section 25 of the 1987 Constitution, Lacson explained that Congress may not increase the appropriations recommended by the President for the operation of the government as specified in the budget.
“Tama si Senator Koko na hindi pwedeng madagdagan ng legislature ang National Expenditure Program (NEP). Maaring bawasan o mag realign ng mga items from one agency to another pero ipinagbabawal ng Saligang Batas ang magdagdag sa tinaguriang President’s budget,” said Lacson in a text message to reporters.
(Senator Koko is right that the legislature cannot increase the NEP. Items can be reduced or realigned from one agency to another but the Constitution prohibits adding to the so-called President’s budget.)
READ: Pimentel bares P450-B hike in 2024 unprogrammed funds
Pimentel earlier disclosed that from Malacanang’s initial proposal of P281.9 billion, the unprogrammed allocation in the 2024 general appropriations bill was raised to P731.4 billion.
With this supposed hike, Pimentel said the national fund for next year would be running under a P6 trillion appropriation.
Lacson, on the other hand, said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. should veto the P450-billion increase to next year’s unprogrammed funds.
READ: Senate ratifies P5.768T nat’l budget for 2024
“Dapat lang i-line item veto ni [Pangulong Marcos] ang mga unconstitutional provisions kasi [kapag] appropriations and tax measures [ay] pinapayagan ng Constitution ang line item veto,” he said.
([President Marcos] should line-item veto the unconstitutional provisions because line item vetos for appropriations and tax measures [are] allowed by the Constitution.)