SC to tackle pork, other discretionary funds today

Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza. INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The debate on the constitutionality of the controversial pork barrel and other discretionary funds will start today, Tuesday, at the Supreme Court.

Solicitor-General Francis Jardeleza will defend the government on behalf of respondents Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Senate President Franklin Drilon and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte.

Jardeleza will be up against petitioners senatorial bet Greco Belgica, Samson Alcantara, former Boac, Marinduque Mayor Pedrito Nepomuceno.

Included in this afternoon’s court debate is whether the General Appropriations Act of 2013 related to the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) and various infrastructures is unconstitutional for violating the principle of separation of powers, undue delegation of legislative power and violates the accountability provisions in the Constitution.

Regarding the Malampaya Fund, debates will center on whether it can be used to bankroll infrastructure and other socio civic projects as allowed by the President.

The Malampaya fund came from government’s revenue for pioneering natural gas project that supplies about 2,700 megawatts of Luzon’s power requirements. It is located along the Palawan coastline. This year alone, the government earned about $1.1 billion from the project.

Last month, the high court stopped the Department of Budget and Management from releasing the remaining PDAF for 2013 and the use of the Malampaya funds for other projects.