VP Sara Duterte urges accountability over unconstitutional budget provisions

Vice President Sara Duterte challenged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of Congress to answer to the public following a landmark Supreme Court decision that struck down key provisions of the Philippine national budget for 2024, 2025, and 2026. In an official statement released on Wednesday (October 21, 2026), Duterte commended the High Court for upholding the Constitution and enforcing the rule of law. The Supreme Court ruled that the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Acts (GAA)—along with specific special provisions in the 2026 national budget—were unconstitutional. The High Court, in a statement on Congress introduced unauthorized lump-sum increases in unprogrammed appropriations that exceeded the executive branch's original proposal. READ: Landmark decision: SC declares some provisions in 2024-2026 PH nat'l budgets as unconstitutional Validation of Earlier Warnings In her statement, Duterte asserted that the ruling vindicated her 2024 warning regarding the legislative process.

She claimed that the Bicameral Conference Committee (Bicam) had allgedly abandoned its duty to scrutinize public funds, turning instead into a "rubber stamp" for Malacañang.

"Tama ang aking babala noong 2024 — na pinatunayan na rin ng desisyon ng Korte Suprema — na hindi na ginagawa ng Bicameral Conference Committee o Bicam ang trabaho nito," Duterte stated.

"Imbes kasi na magsuri at magtalakay, naging stamping pad at sunod-sunuran na lamang ito sa kagustuhan ng Malacañang hinggil sa pambansang badyet."

Calls for Executive and Legislative Accountability

The Vice President directly challenged President Marcos to explain why he authorized national spending laws that diverged significantly from his administration's proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP).

"Ngayon, kailangang panagutan ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang pagpasa ng isang pambansang badyet na malinaw na taliwas sa National Expenditure Program (NEP)," she emphasized.

"Dapat niyang sagutin kung bakit niya nilagdaan ang isang badyet na hindi naman tumutugma sa panukala ng kanyang sariling administrasyon."

Duterte added that the national budget consists of taxpayers' money and must not be treated as a political tool or mechanism for self-interest.

"Ipinagtanggol ng Korte Suprema ang batas. Ngayon, panahon na upang managot sa taumbayan si Pangulong Marcos at ang mga miyembro ng Kongreso na naglapastangan at nagpakasasa sa pera na dapat ay napunta sana sa pagpapabuti ng buhay ng mga Pilipino," she concluded.

The Supreme Court Ruling The Supreme Court decision, penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, granted legal petitions challenging the ₱449.5-billion increase in unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 budget introduced during the Bicameral Conference.

Under Article VI, Section 25(1) of the Philippine Constitution, Congress cannot increase the total appropriations recommended by the President in the NEP.

The High Tribunal ruled that adding lump-sum standby funds beyond the President's limit breached fiscal rules and created artificial fiscal allocations.

While the Court recognized the doctrine of operative fact—meaning previously implemented public projects and disbursed funds remain valid to avoid economic disruption—it explicitly noted that officials, authors, and implementers involved in inserting the unconstitutional items are not immune from administrative, civil, or criminal liabilities unless proven to have acted in good faith.

Following the ruling, Malacañang stated that the administration would file a motion for reconsideration, maintaining that the Executive adhered to established procedures and acted within legal boundaries.

-Paraluman News