Justice Roberto Abad and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad PHOTO FROM https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—A Supreme Court justice questioned Budget Secretary Florencio Abad what law allows them to pool government savings together and spend it for a particular purpose.
Abad, during Tuesday’s oral argument on the legality of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), said the Revised Administrative Code gives them such authority.
Justice Roberto Abad asked the Budget chief to read the provision he was saying although he said “I know it’s not there.”
Justice Abad said it should not be the Revised Administrative Code which should be cited by the government in pushing for the DAP but the General Appropriations Act.
Petitioners alleged that the discretionary fund of the President violates the exclusive power of Congress to appropriate funds.
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