Philippines government and Ombudsman respond to Supreme Court budget ruling

The Philippine government and the Office of the Ombudsman are taking distinct actions following a Supreme Court ruling that declared certain provisions of the 2024, 2025, and 2026 national budgets unconstitutional.

Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe stated that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) will petition the Supreme Court to review portions of the ruling. The OSG argues that the executive and legislative branches should maintain the constitutional authority to correct budget deficiencies and seeks clarification on which safeguards are mandatory versus those that fall under the discretion of Congress and the executive.

Simultaneously, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced the launch of a ‘budget watch’ initiative. He intends to form a dedicated group to study the Supreme Court’s decision and examine the budget provisions in detail to identify potential wrongdoing. Remulla expressed concern regarding the potential manipulation of the system, specifically citing instances where important government projects were placed under unprogrammed appropriations.