Makabayan Bloc urges recall of 2027 appropriations bill

The Makabayan Bloc in the House of Representatives on Thursday called on the House of Representatives to recall the 2027 House General Appropriations Bill to correct what its members said were unconstitutional provisions in the proposed national budget measure.

The call came after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Acts, as well as provisions on unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 GAA.

"Maaaring maging unconstitutional din ang 2027 GAA kung hindi po baguhin yung special provisions na ito. Kung hindi rin po makita na yung mga iskema na nabuyangyang na sa Korte Suprema ay uulitin lang dito sa 2027 GAA, baka ma-delay at hindi mapasa yung budget natin naayon sa batas," Kabataan Party-list Rep Renee Co said in an online press conference today.

"Kaya po ang panawagan ng Kabataan Party-list din, kasama ng Makabayan bloc, recall House Bill 10858 ng HoKabataan Party-list Rep Renee Co said in an online press conference today.use of Representatives," said Co, a lawyer.

(The 2027 General Appropriations Act could also be deemed unconstitutional if these special provisions are not amended. Furthermore, if it becomes apparent that the very schemes already struck down by the Supreme Court are simply being replicated in the 2027 GAA, the passage of our budget—in accordance with the law—could be delayed. For this reason, the Kabataan Party-list, together with the Makabayan bloc, calls for the recall of House Bill 10858.)

The House assistant minority leader said that if the House does not recall its version of the proposed 2027 national budget, the last opportunity to remove what she called illegal provisions in the 2027 GAB would be in the Senate or in the Bicameral Conference Committee.

GMA News has reached out to the House leadership and to House Committee on Appropriations Chair Rep Mikaela Suansing but has yet to receive a reply.

Gabriela Women's Party Rep Sarah Elago supported the Makabayan bloc's call.

"If the provisions and mechanisms that are already condemned or prohibited by the court remain in the 2027 Budget, they must be corrected before it is finally passed," Elago said.

"The Senate and the Bicameral Conference Committee must also ensure that no insertions are again hidden behind unclear allocations," Elago said during the online press conference," she added.

Co also called on the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit to conduct investigations on the issue.

"Hinihimok din po namin ang ombudsman at COA to immediately pursue the authors, proponents, and implementers. Kasama rin po dito si Pangulong Marcos Jr. para sa mga liabilities under the operative fact doctrine's exclusion of bad faith officials," Co said.

"If the parties observed the law or implemented the law in bad faith or may attendance of bad faith sa execution of the law and its implementation, hindi po mapoprotektahan ng doctrine of operative fact yung mga implementers o yung mga partido," she added.

"So, ngayon, ano bang maaaring badges of bad faith? So preliminarily, and ito mas academic discussion na lang din, kasama po dyan yung BBM parametric formula. In clear text, sinasabi po ng essentially ng Malacanang through speaking through a department and in-observe in the budget na may priorities yung leadership," Co said.

(We also urge the ombudsman and COA to immediately pursue the authors, proponents, and implementers. This includes President Marcos Jr. for liabilities under the operative fact doctrine's exclusion of bad faith officials. If the parties observed the law or implemented the law in bad faith or had attendance of bad faith in the execution of the law and its implementation, the doctrine of operative fact cannot protect the implementers or the parties. So, what might constitute "badges of bad faith"? As a preliminary point—and this is more of an academic discussion—the "BBM parametric formula" could be considered one. In essence, Malacañang—speaking through a department and as reflected in the budget—is signaling that the current leadership has specific priorities.) —NB, GMA News