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 27 G.R. Nos. 271059, 271347, E-02472 and E-04036 II The president did not commit grave abuse of discretion when he certified as urgent House Bill No. 8980 145 Petitioners Pimentel et al. argue that the president's certification of urgency of House Bill No. 8980 was tainted with grave abuse of discretion and is void for failure to comply with the constitutional requirements for a valid exercise of such prerogative. They argue that there existed no public calamity or emergency and that the requirement that there be a necessity for the bill's immediate enactment was likewise not present. 146 Respondents contend that the "[president's] certification must be given due deference as it falls within his prerogative as the Chief Executive, consistent with the Honorable Court's pronouncement in Calleja." 147 They aver that the timely passage of a general appropriations law assures continuity in government operations. They also contend that a reenacted general appropriations law such as that of the 2023 GAA for the fiscal year 2024, "could have resulted in the government's inability to fully address its specific needs for the ensuing fiscal year and meet its identified priorities and goals." 148 . In the earlier case of Pimentel v. House. of Representatives, 149 the. president did not commit grave abuse of discretion when he certified as urgent House Bill No. 8980. The Court upholds this ruling. Article VI, Section 26(2) of the Constitution prescribes how a bill is passed into law: (2) No bill passed by either House shall become a law unless it has passed three readings on separate days, and printed copies thereof in its final form have been distributed to its Members three days before its passage, except when the President certifies to the necessity of its immediate enactment to meet a public calamity or emergency. Upon the last reading of a bill, no amendment thereto shall be allowed, and the vote thereon shall be taken immediately thereafter, and the yeas and nays entered in the Journal. (Emphasis supplied) 145 House Bill No. 8980 (2023), I 9th Congress, Second Regular Session, An Act Appropriating _Funds For the Operation of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines from January One to December Thirty-One Two Thousand and Twenty-Four. 146 Petition (G.R. No. 271347), pp. 16-17. 147 Consolidated Comment dated May 27, 2024 in G.R. Nos. 271059 and 271347, pp. 13-14. 148 Id at 14. 1•'' G.R. Nos. 274778, 275405, and 276233 (2025) [Per J. Lazaro-Javier, En Banc].