MANILA — The Supreme Court En Banc has set oral arguments on four consolidated petitions questioning provisions on unprogrammed funds and special accounts in the General Appropriations Acts (GAA) for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

In a statement dated January 23, 2026, the Office of the Supreme Court Spokesperson said the petitions for certiorari and prohibition were filed under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court and challenge specific provisions relating to unprogrammed funds and special accounts in the General Fund.

The oral arguments are scheduled on April 8, 2026, and April 22, 2026, both Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m., at the Session Hall of the Supreme Court in Baguio. Prior to this, a preliminary conference will be held on February 4, 2026, Wednesday, at 1:00 p.m., at the Session Hall of the Supreme Court in Manila.

The petitioners, composed of legislators, taxpayers, and concerned citizens, seek to nullify adjustments made by the bicameral conference committees that allegedly inflated the national budget for three consecutive years. The assailed adjustments involve unprogrammed appropriations and special accounts in the GAA.

In G.R. Nos. 271059 and 271347, former Albay First District Representative Edcel C. Lagman, Camarines Sur Representative Gabriel H. Bordado Jr., Basilan Representative Mujiv S. Hataman, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Congressman Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez are seeking to declare unconstitutional the bicameral insertion of P449.5 billion in the 2024 GAA.

In G.R. No. E-02472, the group Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement Inc. is questioning amendments allegedly made to special accounts in the General Fund and other appropriations in the 2025 GAA. The group also said the 2025 GAA increased the line-item appropriation for the Department of Public Works and Highways’ Special Road Fund from P16.756 billion to P34.748 billion.

Meanwhile, in G.R. No. E-04036, Caloocan Second District Representative Edgar R. Erice and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima are questioning the constitutionality of unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 GAA, saying provisions allowing such appropriations should be declared null and void for being unconstitutional.