Jamaine Punzalan

The Supreme Court building in Manila in this photo taken oon February 5, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Adrian Ayalin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178037261731620250205-supreme-court-ph-JC4032.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Supreme Court building in Manila in this photo taken oon February 5, 2025. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Former senator Franklin Drilon, as an amicus curiae or friend of the court, urged on Tuesday the Supreme Court to conclude its oral arguments on the questioned provisions of the 2024-2026 budgets on<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/7/monsod-unprogrammed-appropriations-in-2024-2026-budgets-terrible-for-good-governance-1513"> unprogrammed appropriations</a> as soon as possible.</p><p>Drilon made the manifestation as the court conducted its continuation of oral arguments on various petitions on the 2024, 2025 and 2026 General Appropriations Acts, considering that next year’s budget would have to be submitted soon to Congress.</p><p>“Given the context of our political situation today, I making this manifestation to urge the honorable court subject to your better judgment, to decide this case as early as possible because the budget will be submitted to Congress 30 days from the Sate of the Nation Address which is the fourth Monday of July,” Drilon said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/7/monsod-unprogrammed-appropriations-in-2024-2026-budgets-terrible-for-good-governance-1513">Monsod: Unprogrammed appropriations in 2024-2026 budgets &#x27;terrible for good governance&#x27; </a></div><p>The Supreme Court started its oral arguments last April after various petitions were filed seeking to declare unprogrammed appropriations as unconstitutional.</p><p>Drilon hoped that the court would issue its guidance not only to the government but to the public as well.</p><p>“We have witnessed for the past two weeks the political turmoil, senators have been charged, they will be held to answer for whatever acts they have committed in contravention of the law but that is why this is very critical your honor that this honorable court provide Congress and the public in general as to the guidelines of what is constitutional and what can be done with the unprogrammed appropriations,” Drilon said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/21/declaring-unprogrammed-funds-as-unconstitutional-won-t-solve-flood-control-mess-salceda-1453">Salceda: Declaring unprogrammed funds as unconstitutional won&#x27;t solve flood control mess </a></div><p>Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, in response to Drilon, noted the manifestation and gave assurance that the court would act accordingly. </p><p>“We also would like to let you know that the court is conscious of the timelines of the budget process,” Gesmundo said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/1/6/palace-confident-2026-budget-is-cleanest-spending-law-as-solon-mulls-sc-challenge-1359">Palace &#x27;confident&#x27; 2026 budget is &#x27;cleanest&#x27; spending law </a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘VULNERABILITY TO CURRUPTION’</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Solicitor General Darlene Berberabe, under interpellation by Associate Justice Ricardo Rosario, said there are “triggers” for unprogrammed appropriations certified by the Bureau of Treasury. </p><p>Berberabe also stressed that government should have excess funds.</p><p>“And that is why it is our position that there are specified limits to the power that is given to the President,” Berberabe said.</p><p>During her interpellation with Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier, Berberabe stated that both programmed and unprogrammed funds are vulnerable to corruption.</p><p>“It is our humble submission that in fact the vulnerability to corruption is not unique to the unprogrammed appropriations, it could also happen in programmed appropriations,” Berberabe said.</p><p>“Correct, but it is enhanced, it is enhanced,” Lazaro-Javier said. </p><p>Questioning Department of Budget and Management Assistant Secretary Romeo Matthew Balanquit, Lazaro-Javier expressed disappointment over the country’s budget deficit, amid unprogrammed appropriations.</p><p>“Kasi pinaghiwalay natin ang sources, parang superficial lang just to justify the funding of unprogrammed funds, iniiwas natin siya sa budget deficit, pero talaga naman related siya sa budget deficit natin,” Lazaro-Javier said. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Ps_7AkZJIs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Former senator Franklin Drilon, as an amicus curiae or friend of the court, urged on Tuesday the Supreme Court to conclude its oral arguments on the questioned provisions of the 2024-2026 budgets on unprogrammed appropriations as soon as possible.</p>

Former senator Franklin Drilon, as an amicus curiae or friend of the court, urged on Tuesday the Supreme Court to conclude its oral arguments on the questioned provisions of the 2024-2026 budgets on unprogrammed appropriations as soon as possible.

Drilon urges Supreme Court to decide ASAP on questioned provisions of 2024-2026 budgets

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Drilon urges Supreme Court to decide ASAP on questioned provisions of 2024-2026 budgets

Adrian Ayalin,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 02, 2026 12:00 PM PHT

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Updated June 02, 2026 12:57 PM PHT

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