SC: ‘Bloated’ unprogrammed funds in nat’l budget ‘unconstitutional’

Inquirer.net - Oct 20, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has declared “unconstitutional” certain provisions of the 2024 and 2025 national budgets, as well as key unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 budget, after finding that Congress increased funding beyond the amount recommended by the president. In a 121-page decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC

Read full article

MORE NEWS

Oct 20, 2026

‘No debt’: Mayor Belmonte lists QC gains in State of the City Address

MANILA, Philippines — “We have fundamentally rewritten the financial story of our city,” Quezon City Mayor Maria Josefina “Joy” Belmonte said on Monday in her 2026 State of the City Address (SOCA), which she delivered before the City Council She noted that her city’s budget has more than doubled since 2019, achieved without imposing new taxes

Oct 20, 2026

Bukidnon’s Manobo, Talaandig ethnic groups celebrate IP month

QUEZON, Bukidnon — Manobo and Talaandig ethnic groups in Quezon, Bukidnon, commemorated the 29th National Indigenous Peoples Month on Tuesday. The event was held in line with celebrations marking the anniversary of the landmark Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997. The event highlighted how traditional knowledge, customary governance, and ecological stewardship continue to shape

Oct 20, 2026

Twins’ suspected trafficker nabbed in Aurora; but abducted kids are missing

MANILA, Philippines — A 32-year-old woman suspected of trafficking children was arrested in San Luis, Aurora. However, the two eight-month-old twins from Taguig she allegedly abducted are missing. The report comes from National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in a statement on Tuesday. The female suspect was apprehended in Barangay 2, San Luis town at

Oct 20, 2026

Super Typhoon Rosal to bring significant rains in PH by Thursday

MANILA, Philippines — Super Typhoon Rosal off Central Luzon is expected to bring significant rainfall to parts of the country starting Thursday afternoon, Oct. 22, after it slightly intensified, the state weather bureau said. In its 5 p.m. weather advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) reported that Rosal slightly intensified as

Oct 20, 2026

DSWD readies relief supplies as Pagudpud placed under Signal No. 1

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Ilocos Region has prepared 128,843 food and nonfood items for families who may be affected by Super Typhoon Rosal (international name: Champi), which entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, was placed under

Oct 20, 2026

SC: ‘Bloated’ unprogrammed funds in nat’l budget ‘unconstitutional’

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has declared “unconstitutional” certain provisions of the 2024 and 2025 national budgets, as well as key unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 budget, after finding that Congress increased funding beyond the amount recommended by the president. In a 121-page decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC said

Oct 20, 2026

Northern Mindanao’s 2nd most wanted falls in Dapitan

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A 56-year-old man tagged as Northern Mindanao’s second most wanted fugitive was captured in Zamboanga del Norte over the weekend, after months in hiding, police said Tuesday. In a statement, the Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) identified the suspect as alias “RK,” a resident of Barangay Diguan in Ozamiz City, Misamis

Oct 20, 2026

Gatchalian questions Duterte’s absence at OVP budget hearing

MANILA, Philippines — Saying that agency heads traditionally appear before Congress to defend their budgets, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian questioned Vice President Sara Duterte’s absence at the Senate on Thursday to defend her office’s proposed P785.2-million appropriation for 2027. Instead of Duterte, her chief of staff, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, and other Office of the Vice

Oct 20, 2026

Marcos vows smooth transition of Sulu from BARMM to Zambo Peninsula

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday vowed a smooth transition of Sulu province from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula). On Sept. 9, 2024, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of Republic Act No. 11054, or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, but ruled that Sulu was not

Oct 20, 2026

Mark Villar seeks mandatory free HMO coverage for gov’t workers

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Mark Villar is pushing for mandatory free health maintenance organization (HMO) coverage for government employees to shield them and their families from costly health emergencies. “Our government employees are valuable partners for promoting progress and bringing services to the public. It’s just right that their health and welfare are ensured, especially in

Oct 20, 2026

Prosecution ready to give ombudsman evidence vs Duterte once requested

MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutors are ready to turn over the trove of evidence they collected for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. However, the panel prefers to await a formal subpoena before surrendering the files, Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said on Tuesday. Luistro, the chief prosecutor, said the team will promptly respond to a

Oct 20, 2026

Dinagat Islands gears up for live-fire war games

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The waters off Dinagat Islands will host military live-fire war games this week, with the provincial government backing the drill. Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr. issued Executive Order No. 10-05, enjoining provincial government employees to support and participate in activities lined up for the war games off Melgar Bay, dubbed

SC: ‘Bloated’ unprogrammed funds in nat’l budget ‘unconstitutional’

MORE NEWS

‘No debt’: Mayor Belmonte lists QC gains in State of the City Address

Bukidnon’s Manobo, Talaandig ethnic groups celebrate IP month

Twins’ suspected trafficker nabbed in Aurora; but abducted kids are missing

Super Typhoon Rosal to bring significant rains in PH by Thursday

DSWD readies relief supplies as Pagudpud placed under Signal No. 1

SC: ‘Bloated’ unprogrammed funds in nat’l budget ‘unconstitutional’

Northern Mindanao’s 2nd most wanted falls in Dapitan

Gatchalian questions Duterte’s absence at OVP budget hearing

Marcos vows smooth transition of Sulu from BARMM to Zambo Peninsula

Mark Villar seeks mandatory free HMO coverage for gov’t workers

Prosecution ready to give ombudsman evidence vs Duterte once requested

Dinagat Islands gears up for live-fire war games

RECOMMENDED