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MANILA, Philippines–Let the Supreme Court define savings, Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said on Friday.
“If I (were) the President and I controlled both chambers now, isasama ko sa motion for reconsideration na i-clarify ng Supreme Court ang definition ng savings. And Let the Supreme Court do it,” Cayetano said during a press conference.
(If I were the President and I controlled both chambers now, I will include in the motion for reconsideration that the Supreme Court clarifies the definition of savings.)
He was referring to the motion for reconsideration that Malacanang has filed before the Supreme Court on its decision declaring parts of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) unconstitutional.
The senator said the high tribunal has the power to define the Constitution.
“Like the Anti-Dynasty Law, nakalagay doon as defined by Congress. So may mga ilang terms sa Constitution na iniiwan na nila sa Congress na mag define pero merong iba hindi nila dini-define,” he pointed out.
(Like the Anti-DynAsty Law, it’s says there as defined by Congress. So there are some terms in the Constitution that they left for Congress to define but there are also some that they don’t define.)
“Dalawa lang ang options either you use the ordinary meaning of the word or the Supreme Court will define it,” said the senator.
(There are only two options–either you use the ordinary meaning of the word or the Supreme Court will define it.)
So if the Aquino government wants to regain the trust of the people, then Cayetano said Malacanang should file an urgent motion to seek clarification from the high tribunal.
“It’s not an MR but it’s asking them to clarify the terms. Then ang pakiusap sa SC, bilisan nila kasi SC din naman ang nagsabi na hindi dapat maantala ang public service,” he said.
Cayetano issued the statements following President Benigno Aquino’s call on Congress to pass a joint resolution to define savings.
Though Congress may pass a resolution to define savings, he said it has to be in accordance to the Supreme Court decision on the DAP issue.
“Let me say that Congress should do everything to help Malacanang do their job, but Congress must not abandon their job of the power of the purse, and to fiscalize,” he said.
“Hindi tama na mga secretary na lang na appointed ng Presidente ang mag-decide kung saan pupunta ang pera. Kaya nga (in-appoint ang mga kongresista at senador,” he further said.
(It’s not right that the secretaries appointed by the President will decide where the money should go. That’s why congressmen and senators were elected.)