Palace tells judiciary to blame Congress

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang believes the judiciary should direct its criticism over the cuts in its budget for 2012 at Congress because it is the institution that approves the national budget.

“Congress approves the budget. It’s part of the budget process, the justices are called, invited to appear before the appropriations committee. So, it’s a process that involves several branches – the executive and the legislature – so it shouldn’t be taken against us,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing yesterday.

He also said that Chief Justice Renato Corona was mistaken when he complained that the budget cut undermine the fiscal autonomy of the judiciary.

“Chief Justice Corona should not confuse that issue on the budget cut as though it is an attack on him or on the Supreme Court (SC) – far from us to say that,” he declared, insisting the judiciary’s budget has been raised every year, contrary to their claims.

The judiciary has expressed displeasure at the impounding of the P2 billion allocated for the filling of vacant posts under the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund (MPBF), a new item in the General Appropriations bill that withholds the disbursement of funds meant for hiring new state workers until actually needed. 

Under the Constitution, the judiciary has fiscal autonomy and shall be provided an annual budget not lower than what was provided in the previous year.

“I think this is an issue on the MPBF. There has been no slash. We’ve always discussed the issue on the judiciary budget year in, year out,” Lacierda said.

‘Nothing personal’

Lacierda said Corona should not take it personally every time the judiciary is criticized, especially when it has been flip-flopping on the dispute between the Philippine Airlines and the Flight Attendants and Stewards Association of the Philippines (FASAP).

“We have democratic space. People will raise their voice; people will raise their comments – take it as it is and do the best that you can. And if the SC feels attacked, it’s certainly because of certain actions they have made,” he pointed out.

The SC recently recalled its final ruling declaring illegal the dismissal of 1,400 Philippine airline workers in 1998.