Malacañang says it is ready to answer SC petition on unprogrammed funds

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil | PHOTO: PCO official website

MANILA, Philippines — The executive branch is ready to answer the petition on unprogrammed funds should the Supreme Court (SC) mandate it, said Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil on Tuesday.

Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman filed a petition before the SC questioning the constitutionality of the  P449.5 billion excess in unprogrammed funds in the 2024 national budget.

Included in the petition were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangadaman, and National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon.

READ: Solons says P449.5 B unprogrammed funds may be challenged before SC

“The Executive Department will answer accordingly if required by the Supreme Court,” Garafil said in a Viber message.

READ: It’s up to Supreme Court to rule on unprogrammed funds – Salceda

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. did not veto the excess funds, choosing only to veto two items: the Department of Justice’s revolving funds and the implementation of the Career Executive Service Development Program.

Lagman questioned the legality of the unprogrammed funds, as it was only inserted during the bicameral conference. It exceeded the executive branch’s initial proposal of P281.9 billion.