Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office (@SCPh_PIO)

@SCPh_PIO19 Jul 2023

Paano ang proseso ng pagpapiyansa? Panoorin ang buong video: youtu.be/Nu7eMWaNwUU

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 22, 2026 · 12:45 AM UTC

@SCPh_PIO13h

The 𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐚𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥 (𝐉𝐁𝐂) will begin its public panel interviews of candidates for the position of 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭, in view of the compulsory retirement of Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo on November 6, 2026. The following candidates are scheduled for interview today, October 22, 2026: LEONEN, Marvic M.V.F. CAGUIOA, Alfredo Benjamin S. Read the full text of the @JBC_Ph Announcement at bit.ly/4i0bgLd.

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 22, 2026 · 7:03 AM UTC

@SCPh_PIO7h

The @JBC_Ph resumes its public interviews this afternoon with #SupremeCourtPH Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Sabater Caguioa, another candidate for Chief Justice.

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 22, 2026 · 11:43 AM UTC

@SCPh_PIO2h

The @JBC_PH public panel interviews for the position of Chief Justice of the Philippines will resume on Monday, October 26, 2026. Read more at: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17564…

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 22, 2026 · 8:38 AM UTC

@SCPh_PIO5h

Court operations in some areas in the Philippines are suspended on Friday, October 23, 2026 (except as otherwise indicated). Visit our Facebook page for full copies of memoranda: Judicial Region (JR) 1 - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧, 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐫 - Aldaw Ti Wayawaya-Ili A Narvacan - 𝐑𝐓𝐂, 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝟓𝟖, 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐲; 𝐌𝐓𝐂, 𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐲; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐨-𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐲-𝐓𝐮𝐛𝐨-𝐋𝐮𝐛𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐧-𝐁𝐮𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐜-𝐃𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐫𝐚 - power interruption JR 2 - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬 - inclement weather - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐂𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐨 - power interruption - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐂𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐮-𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐬, 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐚 - power interruption JR 3 - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐓𝐂𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐛𝐞-𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐥, 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 - power interruption - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬, 𝐏𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 - Tigtigan Terakan Keng Dalan Festival JR 4-B - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐓𝐂𝐂 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝟏 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 - power interruption JR 5 - 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧, 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐲 - power interruption Please refer to the memo for additional details. #SCPhWalangPasok #SupremeCourtPH

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 22, 2026 · 4:22 AM UTC

@SCPh_PIO10h

Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo, together with #SupremeCourtPH (SC) Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and Associate Justices Jose Midas P. Marquez and Antonio T. Kho, Jr., led the inauguration and turnover ceremony of the Sulu Hall of Justice (HOJ) at the Capitol Complex in Barangay Bangkal, Patikul, Sulu on October 20, 2026. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. also graced the inauguration. The province of Sulu has 16 courts: four Regional Trial Courts, one Shari’ah District Court, one Municipal Trial Court (MTC), four Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTC), and six Shari’ah Circuit Courts (SCC). Of these, 13 courts will be housed in the new Sulu HOJ. The MTC of Jolo, the 4th MCTC of Siasi, and the SCC of Jolo will maintain satellite offices at the new facility. The Sulu HOJ, which stands on an 8,010-square-meter lot, broke ground on September 4, 2025. In his message, Chief Justice Gesmundo emphasized the importance of a whole-of-government approach in establishing institutions that promote access to justice, peace, and development. Recalling his message during the 2025 groundbreaking ceremony that the Sulu HOJ should “rise swiftly, serve justly, and stand for generations,” the Chief Justice emphasized that the building’s lasting value would be measured by how well it serves the people of Sulu.

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 22, 2026 · 4:22 AM UTC

@SCPh_PIO10h

President Marcos recognized the SC’s efforts to modernize the Judiciary and improve access to justice under the 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘑𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘐𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 2022-2027. He emphasized that the initiatives, together with the Sulu HOJ, help bring judicial services closer to the people and make justice more accessible in the province.

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 22, 2026 · 4:22 AM UTC

@SCPh_PIO10h

READ: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17558…

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 21, 2026 · 8:19 AM UTC

Court operations in some areas in the Philippines are suspended on Thursday, October 22, 2026 (except as otherwise indicated). Visit our Facebook page for full copies of memoranda: Judicial Region (JR) 5 - 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐠-𝐉𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫, 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐲 - power interruption Please refer to the memo for additional details. #SCPhWalangPasok #SupremeCourtPH

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 22, 2026 · 12:03 AM UTC

@SCPh_PIO14h

Updated as of 8:00 A.M., October 22, 2026 JR 2 - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬 - inclement weather JR 4-B - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐓𝐂𝐂 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝟏 𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐧 - power interruption

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 21, 2026 · 10:14 AM UTC

WATCH: Press Conference by Supreme Court Spokesperson Atty. Camille Sue Mae L. Ting held on October 21, 2026. #SupremeCourtPH #SCphPressCon

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 20, 2026 · 12:11 PM UTC

Court operations in some areas in the Philippines are suspended on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 (except as otherwise indicated). Visit our Facebook page for full copies of memoranda: Judicial Region (JR) 4-A - 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐧, 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐬 - power interruption - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐧, 𝐑𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐥 - anticipated road closures, traffic congestion, and large influx of participants during the town fiesta activities JR 5 - 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐏𝐢𝐨 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧, 𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐚𝐲 - power interruption JR 8 - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐧, 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 - power interruption Please refer to the memos for additional details. #SCPhWalangPasok #SupremeCourtPH

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 21, 2026 · 7:14 AM UTC

Updated as of 3:15 P.M., October 21, 2026 JR 1 - 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐊𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧-𝐊𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧, 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐭, starting 1:00 P.M. - power interruption

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 21, 2026 · 6:00 AM UTC

The public is advised of the schedule of livestreaming of the 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐢𝐝𝐬 of the following 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐛𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧 project: 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘺, 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺, 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘗𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘜𝘱𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘣𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘞𝘪-𝘍𝘪 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 - November 10, 2026, 1:30 PM The Opening of Bids will be streamed live via YouTube at: youtube.com/@SandiganbayanPH VISIT sc.judiciary.gov.ph/bids-and… for more information.

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 21, 2026 · 12:46 AM UTC

Updated as of 8:45 A.M., October 21, 2026 JR 10 - 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐫𝐨𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐚 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲; 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐌𝐂𝐓𝐂 𝐀𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧-𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐨𝐧-𝐉𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐳; 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐓𝐂 𝐋𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐳 𝐉𝐚𝐞𝐧𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐬 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 - power interruption

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 20, 2026 · 12:17 PM UTC

Day 2 of the 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 concluded with a major milestone: the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Inter-Agency Coordination for Land Administration, Registration, and Land-Related Justice. Parties to the MOU included the #SupremeCourtPH through the Office of the Court Administrator, Department of Justice, Land Registration Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Office of the Solicitor General, Commission on Human Rights, National Council on Disability Affairs, Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor, Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development, and the Public Attorney’s Office. These government agencies are actively uniting to modernize land administration and fast-track land-related justice across the Philippines. The MOU lays down a collaborative pathway for digital innovation, integrity safeguards, and structural accessibility.

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 20, 2026 · 10:37 AM UTC

Idineklara ng #KorteSuprema na labag sa Konstitusyon ang mga sumusunod: una, ang 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) dahil sa pagdagdag ng Kongreso ng PHP 449.5 bilyon sa unprogrammed appropriations na nagresulta sa pagtaas ng kabuuang halagang inirekomenda ng Pangulo para sa national budget; ikalawa, ang Special Provisions 1(a) at (b), Chapter XLIII ng 2026 GAA; at ikatlo, ang 2025 GAA dahil sa pagdagdag ng Kongreso ng PHP 17.99 bilyon sa Special Road Fund, na nagresulta rin sa pagtaas ng kabuuang halagang inirekomenda ng Pangulo para sa national budget. Sa Desisyong isinulat ni Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, pinagbigyan ng En Banc ng Korte Suprema ang petisyon nina Edcel C. Lagman at iba pa (G.R. No. 271059) at bahagyang pinagbigyan ang petisyon nina Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III at iba pa (G.R. No. 271347). Kinuwestiyon ng mga petisyon ang pagtaas ng mga unprogrammed appropriations na ginawa ng Kongreso sa ilalim ng 2024 GAA. Ayon sa Korte, labag sa Konstitusyon ang Republic Act No. 11975 o ang 2024 GAA dahil sa aktuwal na pagtaas ng kabuuang pondong inilaan ng pamahalaan ng PHP 449.5 bilyon. Pinagbigyan din ng Korte Suprema ang petisyon ng Filipinos for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement, Inc. at iba pa (G.R. No. E-02472). Idineklara nitong labag sa Konstitusyon ang Republic Act No. 12116 o ang 2025 GAA dahil sa PHP 17.99 bilyong pondo sa Special Road Fund ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) na idinagdag ng Kongreso. Dahil dito, tumaas ang kabuuang pondong inirekomenda ng Pangulo. Samantala, idineklara rin ng Korte na ang PHP 12.75 bilyong dagdag na pondo sa mga Special Accounts in the General Fund (SAGF) ng ilang ahensiya ay labag sa Book VI, Chapter 4, Section 25 ng Administrative Code. Ipinagbabawal ng probisyong ito ang pagdaragdag sa mga halagang nakasaad sa mga espesyal na probisyon nang lampas sa mga halagang iminungkahi ng Pangulo. Bahagya namang pinagbigyan ng Korte Suprema ang petisyon nina Edgar R. Erice at Leila M. De Lima (G.R. No. E-04036) na kumukuwestiyon sa pagiging naaayon sa Konstitusyon ng Chapter XLIII ng 2026 GAA na nagpapahintulot sa paglalaan ng unprogrammed appropriations. Ayon sa Korte Suprema, hindi awtomatikong labag sa Konstitusyon ang unprogrammed appropriations. Gayunman, kailangan itong magkaroon ng malinaw na mga limitasyon at pananggalang para matiyak ang maayos na pamamahala sa pananalapi ng pamahalaan, pagiging bukas sa publiko ng mga gastusin, at pananagutan sa paggamit ng pondo. Nagiging labag sa Konstitusyon ang mga ito kapag walang sapat na pamantayan sa paggamit ng pondo at nagiging dahilan para magkaroon ang Ehekutibo ng halos walang limitasyong kapangyarihang gumastos. Maaari nitong pahinain ang disiplina sa pananalapi ng pamahalaan at maapektuhan ang pagpopondo sa mga proyektong nakatakda nang pondohan kapag hindi nakamit ang inaasahang kita ng pamahalaan. Sinabi rin ng Korte na ang limitasyon sa kabuuang pondong maaaring ilaan ng pamahalaan, alinsunod sa Article VI, Section 25(1) ng Konstitusyon, ay sumasaklaw sa pinagsamang halaga ng programmed at unprogrammed appropriations. Binigyang-diin nito na para maging naaayon sa Konstitusyon, dapat tumugon ang mga unprogrammed appropriations sa mga sumusunod na kondisyon: a. Sa anumang pagkakataon, hindi dapat magkaroon ng mga lump-sum appropriation sa ilalim ng Unprogrammed Appropriations b. Bilang bahagi ng kapangyarihan ng Kongreso na magsagawa ng pangangasiwang pambatas, at dahil magkaiba ang paggasta para sa pagtugon sa kakulangan sa budget at ang paggasta sa pamamagitan ng unprogrammed appropriations, dapat malinaw na maiba ang mga kondisyong namamahala sa paggamit ng bagong kita, gayundin ng karagdagang kita ng Pamahalaan mula sa mga pinagkukunan ng kita na hindi buwis, para sa mga nakaprograma at hindi nakaprogramang gastusin. Dapat ipagpalagay na ilalaan ng Kongreso ang mga bagong pondong ito sa mga nakaprogramang gastusin, maliban kung may malinaw at matibay na mga dahilan, gaya ng mga proyektong may tulong mula sa ibang bansa, para isama ang mga ito sa Unprogrammed Appropriations c. Dapat magtakda ang Kongreso ng sapat na pamantayan sa kung ano ang uunahin sa paggasta kapag may higit sa isang layunin sa ilalim ng Unprogrammed Appropriations d. Dapat ang probisyon ay nasa loob ng pambansang programa sa pananalapi na itinatag sa budget at naaayon sa katangian nito bilang isang makitid na contingent na paglalaan Permanenteng pinagbawalan ng Korte Suprema ang Senado, Mababang Kapulungan, Tanggapan ng Executive Secretary, at Acting Secretary ng Department of Budget and Management na ipatupad ang Special Provision 1(a) at (b), Chapter XLIII ng General Appropriations Act (GAA) para sa 2026. Tungkol naman sa GAA para sa 2024 at 2025, sinabi ng Korte na naaangkop ang doktrina ng operative fact. Ibig sabihin, hindi ipapawalang-bisa ang mga good faith na nagawa alinsunod sa inaakalang may bisang batas. Gayunman, saklaw lamang ng doktrina ang mga hindi maibabalik na programa na ang mga benepisyaryo ay kumilos nang may mabuting hangarin (good faith). Hindi nito pinoprotektahan ang mga may-akda, nagpanukala, o nagpatupad ng mga naturang programa laban sa pananagutang kriminal, sibil, o administratibo, maliban kung tahasang matukoy ng mga kinauukulang hukuman o tribunal na kumilos sila nang may mabuting hangarin. Basahin ang press release sa sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17546…. Basahin ang Desisyon sa sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17503…. Concurring Opinion: Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17504… Separate Concurring Opinions: Justice Alfredo Benjamin S. Caguioa: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17506… Justice Japar B. Dimaampao: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17503…. Separate Concurring and Dissenting Opinions: Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17505… Justice Raul B. Villanueva: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17510… Concurrence and Dissent: Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17501… Separate Opinions: Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17509… Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17507… Concurring and Dissenting Opinions: Justice Rodil V. Zalameda: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17509… Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17505… Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17504… Dissenting Opinion: Justice Antonio T. Kho, Jr.: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17502… Sumunod sa Credit Attribution Policy ng SC PIO: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-a…. #SupremeCourtPH #SCphTranslations

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 20, 2026 · 9:24 AM UTC

The Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional, first, the 2024 General Appropriations Act because of Congress’s increase of the unprogrammed appropriations by PHP 449.5 billion, which resulted in an increase in the president’s total recommended appropriations, second, Special Provisions 1(a) and (b), Chapter XLIII of the 2026 General Appropriations Act, and third, the 2025 General Appropriations Act because of Congress’s increase of the Special Road Fund by PHP 17.99 billion, which also resulted in an increase in the president’s total recommended appropriations. In a Decision written by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, the Supreme Court En Banc, granted the petition of Edcel C. Lagman et al. (G.R. No. 271059) and partly granted the petition of Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III et al. (G.R. No. 271347) challenging the increase in unprogrammed appropriations made by Congress in the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA). It declared unconstitutional Republic Act No. 11975 or the 2024 GAA because the total appropriations were effectively increased by PHP 449.5 billion. The SC also granted the petition by Filipinos for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement, Inc. et al. (G.R. No. E-02472). It declared unconstitutional Republic Act No. 12116 or the 2025 GAA because of the PHP 17.99-billion increase to the DPWH Special Road Fund made by Congress, which resultantly increased the president’s total recommended appropriations. As regards the PHP 12.75-billion increase to certain agencies’ Special Accounts in the General Fund (SAGF), these were found to have violated Book VI, Chapter 4, Section 25 of the Administrative Code, which prohibits increasing amounts in special provisions beyond those proposed by the president. The SC partly granted Edgar R. Erice and Leila M. De Lima’s petition (G.R. No. E-04036) challenging the constitutionality of Chapter XLIII of the 2026 GAA, which authorizes unprogrammed appropriations. The Supreme Court ruled that Unprogrammed Appropriations are not unconstitutional per se. However, this budgetary item needs clear limits and safeguards to preserve fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability. They become constitutionally infirm when they lack sufficient standards, effectively granting the Executive unchecked spending authority that weakens fiscal discipline and undermines funding for programmed projects when estimated government revenues are not realized. The Court further ruled that the budgetary ceiling imposed under Article VI, Sec. 25(1) of the Constitution applies to the total of programmed and unprogrammed appropriations. The Court thus emphasized that to be constitutional, unprogrammed appropriations must comply with the following conditions: a. In no case shall there be lump sums in Unprogrammed Appropriations. b. As part of Congress’s legislative oversight, and given the distinction between spending for the deficit and spending through unprogrammed appropriations, the conditions for the use of new income, as well as additional earnings of the Government from non-tax revenue sources, should be clearly differentiated between programmed and unprogrammed expenditures, with Congress presumptively using these new funds for programmed expenditures, except when there are clear and convincing reasons, such as foreign assisted projects, for including them under Unprogrammed Appropriations. c. Congress should prescribe sufficient standards in terms of prioritization for spending when there is more than one purpose under the Unprogrammed Appropriations. d. The provision for Unprogrammed Appropriations should be within the national fiscal program established in the Budget and consistent with its nature as a narrow contingent appropriation. The SC permanently prohibited the Senate, House of Representatives, Office of the Executive Secretary, and the Department of Budget and Management Acting Secretary from implementing Special Provision 1(a) and (b), Chapter XLIII of the 2026 GAA. As to the 2024 and 2025 GAA, the SC held that the doctrine of operative fact applies. However, the doctrine covers only irreversible programs whose beneficiaries acted in good faith. It does not shield authors, proponents, or implementors from criminal, civil, or administrative liability unless the proper tribunals explicitly find that they acted in good faith. Read the full text of the Press Release at: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=17546…. Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-a….

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Philippine Supreme Court Public Information Office · Oct 20, 2026 · 10:23 AM UTC