The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) wants the Supreme Court to clarify which government programs can continue under its ruling on unprogrammed appropriations, warning against unnecessarily halting activities that are not covered by the restrictions.
Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe said the Executive Branch must comply with the ruling while ensuring that unaffected government programs continue.
“Para kami rin aaralin namin, para makapagbigay kami ng guidance, kasi iyong atin naman, Konstitusyon, hindi naman titigil ang buhay, titigil ang mga departamento, dahil kailangan itatanong natin sa Supreme Court, ano ba ang interpretasyon mo,” Berberabe said during a Palace press briefing.
“Sapagkat ang Konstitusyon, dapat naiintindihan ng karaniwang tao. So, hindi ako mapa-paralyzed at sandali i-check natin. So, unless malinaw na sinabing ito, ito itigil mo, iyon ang ititigil.”
She said the OSG is studying which measures can still be implemented without violating the High Court’s decision.
Berberabe also said projects being implemented in phases should be assessed to determine whether their remaining stages can proceed instead of suspending the entire undertaking.
She has discussed the matter with Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon, who identified issues requiring further guidance.
“Ayaw naman naming lumabag, ayaw naming hindi sundin pero kailangan maging malinaw,” Berberabe said.IMT
