PDAF menu better than menu of high-end restaurant – SC Justice

Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza. INQUIRER PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) menu under the General Appropriations Act is better than the menu of a high end restaurant, a Supreme Court associate justice said Thursday.

During part 2 of the oral argument on PDAF legality, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza admitted that the President did not veto the identification of projects made by individual lawmakers.

“The one who should identify [projects] should be Congress as a body but this one [referring to the PDAF menu] is determined by the individual members and the President does not veto this,” Associate Justice Roberto Abad said.

Jardeleza argued that there are restrictions imposed by the Executive such as submissions of supporting documents relating to projects identified by lawmakers.

But Abad said there is no actual restriction because Congress can spend the money based on his preference.

“[The PDAF menu] contains anything Congress wants. If there is anything you like, it is there in the menu. That menu is better than the menu of Gloria Maris [restaurant],” Abad said.