271059/271347/E-02472/E-04036 Representative Edcel C. Lagman, substituted by Albay First District Representative Krisel B. Lagman, et al. Vs. The Congress of the Philippines, et al./Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Pantaleo “Bebot” Alvarez Vs. Lucas P. Bersamin, in his capacity as executive secretary, and Amenah F. Pangandaman, in her capacity as secretary of the Department of Budget and Management/Filipinos for Peace, Justice and Progress Movement, Inc. (FPJPM), represented by its president and chairperson, Joseph F. Cadsawan, and Gloria T. Puzon, chapter Officer Vs. The House of Representatives, et al./Edgar R. Erice and Leila De Lima Vs. The Senate of the Philippines, et al. — Official PDF

Decision 113 G.R. Nos. 271059, 271347, E-02472 and E-04036 J. Caguioa: Where are the documents that su·pport the figures in those reports? Because you've transferred PAPs, and according to Senator Drilon, that's within the discretion of Congress, fine. But we would like to see what PAPs were defunded, what PAPs were created, and whether those new PAPs -what's the status of these new PAPs? Those should be in reports substantiating that conference report. Sol. Gen.: We will ask again, Your Honor, but I am not hopeful because we already asked previously, for details. J. Caguioa: Are you saying that there are no details or that they don't want to give us the details? Two different things. Sol. Gen.: My appreciation is that this is the only document or report that they have. J. Caguioa: There must be ... nagtanggal sila ng pera sa PAPs. Nilagay nila sa hagong·PAPs. Hindi natin malalaman kung saan ang tinanggal nHa. Kasi the NEP came from you eh. The NEP came from DBM. Therefore. DBM can just look at the GAA, compare it with their NEP. They can identify which PAPs were ... di ba? Sol. Gen.: Yes, Your Honor. J. Caguioa: And then you can see which new PAPs are in the GAA compared to the NEP? Sol. Gen.: We will ask again. Your Honor, as regards to the PAPs that will support and what exactly they did approve in the BICAM. - - , , , ' - ' • - - J. Caguioa: Thank you. Hold on. Okay, I actually printed them out. These are the documents I'm going to be asking from you. Marife, can you give to Solicitor General and to the other petitioners? (At this juncture, Justice Caguioa handed the papers to Atty. Lomibao-Cuevas) As well, Madam Solicitor General, for those new PAPs that were inserted-I understand, I want to know whether or not they were implementation-ready. So, if they were implementation-ready, if you can give me the feasibility studies, everything _that was required by the DBM as to support those new PAPs. Sol. Gen: We will ask, Your Honor. (TSN, June 16, 2026 Oral Arguments, pp. 129- 134.) J. Caguioa: Thank you Chief. Can I ask the SolGen please? Just a few questions. Jn the last oral arguments, I requested for specific documents relating to the 2024, 2025 and 2026 budgets. Have you submitted those documents? Sol. Gen.: Your Honor, we have submitted our compliances with regard to the manifestation or compliance dated July JO, 2026. You specifically requested, Your Honor, supporting. worksheets, spreadsheets, and background calculations. Those are not part of the submissions, Your Honor. We relayed ... to our clients, the House and the Senate and they furnished us with the BICAM Report and their joint explanation of the differences ... that were effected in the changes during the BICAM meeting, Your Honor. J. Caguioa: And is it complete? Sol. Gen.: So, with regard to the spreadsheets, Your Honor, it is not part of the submission, Your Honor. So, we forwarded to the Supreme Court the documents that were furnished us by . the House and the Senate, Your Honor. We also checked-the rules of the House and the Senate, Your Honor, and the ... their rules require that the BICAM Committee to issue a BICAM Report, the Chair of the Appropriations Committee also of the House provided the joint explanation of the differences that were determined and decided during the BICAM and all of those were forwarded to Your Honors please. J. Caguioa: I'm looking at my notes and I asked for a lot of documents specifically the specific PAPs under programmed that were inserted by the BICAM. the respective amounts for each, and the suppo1ting documents for the specific PAPs. Meaning, whether they're implementation-ready, agency absorptive capacity consistent with priorities in the framework, inclusion in the annual procurement plan. Did your compliances address these? Sol. Gen.: Your Honor, the ... when we asked the House and the Senate, there are no records that are available that can be certified, Your Honor, because again and they referred us to what is required under their rules and that they are required to come up with a BICAM Report ... • (intenupted) J. Caguioa: In other words, what you are telling the Court is based on what was told to you by them? J. Caguioa: ... Who in particular did you talk to in the House of Representatives and the Senate? Sol, Gen.: So, ___ my team was corresponding with their counterparts and I also had a meeting.with •the Speaker of the House and the Chairperson of the Appropriations Cop1mittee, -Your Honor. So I had a few meetings with the House leadership, Your Honor. J. Caguioa: Okay. ls it possible that the Court asks the representative of Congress, both the House and the Senate, to. file a compliance with the Court unde~ oath attesting.to what are you are· now telling us that, in fact, they do not have the records? Sol. Gen.: Your Honor so we had a discussion also on it as ___ and may I share with you like there a~~ / some institu~ional concerns also for them. They were saying that we have already p~ovid~~