# Philippine Supreme Court budget ruling dispute > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/philippine-supreme-court-budget-ruling-dispute > Updated: 2026-10-25T22:50:00.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2. The Philippine Supreme Court ruled that Congress cannot exceed the total appropriations recommended by the president, declaring portions of the 2024, 2025, and 2026 national budgets unconstitutional. The decision specifically invalidated certain increases in unprogrammed funds and special road funds. In response, the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) advised the Marcos administration to defer spending on flagged items as a show of “good faith” while preparing a motion for reconsideration. The OSG intends to challenge the ruling on the grounds of judicial overreach and the separation of powers, seeking to maintain the authority of the executive and legislative branches to address budget deficiencies. Concurrently, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced a ‘budget watch’ initiative. This effort involves forming a dedicated group to study the court’s decision and examine budget provisions for potential wrongdoing, specifically addressing concerns regarding the use of unprogrammed appropriations for government projects. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-25: Philippines government and Ombudsman respond to Supreme Court budget ruling The Philippine Solicitor General is seeking Supreme Court clarification on budget implementation, while the Ombudsman launches a ‘budget watch’ to investigate potential misuse of public funds. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/philippines-government-and-ombudsman-respond-to-supreme-court-budget-ruling ### 2026-10-23: Philippine Supreme Court limits congressional spending power The Philippine Supreme Court ruled that Congress cannot exceed presidential spending recommendations, prompting the OSG to advise deferring certain budget items while preparing an appeal. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/philippine-supreme-court-limits-congressional-spending-power --- Cite as: Philippine Supreme Court budget ruling dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/philippine-supreme-court-budget-ruling-dispute