MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) concluded the oral arguments on consolidated petitions challenging the constitutionality of unprogrammed appropriations and other budget provisions in the 2024, 2025 and 2026 national budgets.

After six hearing days spread over three months, Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo directed the parties and the amici curiae, or friends of the court, to submit their memoranda on all issues within 20 days from July 14.

He also ordered government respondents to file the remaining requested manifestations, documents and certifications within a non-extendible period of 15 days.

“Respondent government is reminded to submit remaining requested manifestation, documents, and certifications within a non-extendible period of 15 calendars from today,” Gesmundo said.

The Chief Justice said the court would resolve the case based on its own timetable, noting that Congress would soon begin deliberations on the proposed 2027 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“All the parties are reminded that the court will decide on this urgent case based on their own timeline considering the manifestations of the amici and that the GAA (General Appropriations Act) 2027 will soon be tackled by Congress, regardless whether the parties complied with the periods we have provided,” Gesmundo said.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Associate Justice Benjamin Caguioa also directed representatives of the Senate and the House of Representatives to submit, under oath, a compliance stating that they do not possess the documents earlier requested by the High Court concerning alleged changes made to the 2024 national budget.

The first set of petitions was filed by the late Albay representative Edcel Lagman, former Camarines Sur representative Gabriel Bordado Jr., former Basilan representative Mujiv Hataman, former senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and former Davao del Norte representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez. They are seeking to have the alleged PHP449.5 billion bicameral insertions in the 2024 GAA declared unconstitutional.

Another petition was filed by Filipinos for Peace, Justice, and Progress Movement Inc., questioning amendments allegedly made to the Special Accounts in the General Fund and other appropriations under the 2025 GAA.

A separate petition was filed by Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice and Mamamayang Liberal Representative Leila de Lima, who challenged the constitutionality of the unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 GAA.

The consolidated petitions ask the High Court to invalidate budget adjustments allegedly introduced by the bicameral conference committees that increased appropriations in the national budgets beginning in 2024.

The 2026 General Appropriations Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Jan. 5, includes PHP150.9 billion in unprogrammed appropriations under Republic Act No. 12314.

The petitioners had also sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order, but the Supreme Court did not grant the request. The Office of the Solicitor General had earlier asked the court to dismiss the consolidated petitions.