The Supreme Court set oral arguments on April 7 over petitions questioning the legality of unprogrammed funds and special accounts in the national budget, with hearings at the En Banc Hall in Manila.
A second hearing is slated on April 21, as consolidated cases challenge provisions in the 2024 to 2026 General Appropriations Acts.
Petitions from former lawmakers and civic groups alleged budget insertions beyond constitutional limits, flagging hundreds of billions in unprogrammed allocations.
Petitioners argued Congress, through bicameral panels, expanded funding across multiple years in violation of rules on appropriations.
The high court moved to resolve common legal issues on congressional authority, budget execution, and constitutional limits, setting up a key test on the legality of contested funds.IMT
