The Philippine Online Chronicles

Contrary to Malacañang's claims, the dispute between the palace and the Supreme Court regarding the budget of the judiciary remains far from over, says Supreme Court spokesperson Jose Midas Marquez.

According to Marquez, the conditions set by the palace on the use of the budget for the judiciary was unconstitutional.

“They (Malacañang) have supposedly settled the issue by subjecting the judiciary and the constitutional commissions to certain conditions on the use of the questioned funds. This is an express violation of the constitutional provisions on fiscal autonomy,” said Marquez.

Marquez cited a 1992 Supreme Court ruling which states that “the imposition of restrictions and constraints on the manner the independent constitutional offices allocate and utilize the funds appropriated for their operations in anathema to fiscal autonomy.”

As reported in a news article, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said the government would release the P1.9 billion fund for unfilled positions in the judiciary, if the justices would submit a report to the office of the president and to Congress every quarter, detailing how the money was spent.”

The judiciary is also required to use this fund for filling vacant posts, or else these will revert to the treasury.

On Monday, Malacañang reacted to the judiciary's argument.

“Bakit nagpuputok ang butse niya? [Why is he busting a gut?],” asked presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda. “It was Chief Justice [Renato] Corona who suddenly blew up on that issue. It was only when he attacked the Executive branch that we spoke up.”

“We have already resolved the issue and we have also [held a] dialogue with them in the past,” said Lacierda.

Lacierda also pointed out that the Congress has the mandate on the budget issue. “[Congress] is the one that is going to approve or disapprove the budget. So that is something that we leave to the legislative branch.”

Marquez, however, denied the allegations of oversensitivity. “We have been in government long enough to know how to address issues, like when to comment and when not to comment on issues raised against another branch of government within their territory,” he said.