Hindi ka nag-iisip INSIDE CONGRESS Charlie Manalo 09/22/2011

Hindi ka nag-iisip

INSIDE CONGRESS

Charlie Manalo

09/22/2011
Last week, the Aquino administration rammed down the throats of the lawmakers the proposed P1.816 trillion 2012 national budget which includes among many others, a provision that would effectively allow the Executive branch to impound the hiring budget of constitutional bodies, including the Supreme Court.

Knowing fully well that the provision for the P23 billion miscellaneous personnel benefits fund in the 2012 General Appropriations Act runs contrary to the fiscal autonomy of these constitutional commissions which is enshrined in the constitution, congressmen allied with the administration were quick enough to dangle the sword of Damocles over the heads of the SC justices on whose shoulders lie the task of determining the constitutionality of such provision, threatening them with impeachment should they declare the MPBF unconstitutional.

So, who now would decide the constitutionality of this issue?

All that hullabaloo regarding this MPBF would not have passed Congress’ approval without the full knowledge of President Aquino as it had emanated from the office of the secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, headed by one of his most trusted minions, Butch Abad. And Noynoy had obviously given his consent even if he had been forewarned that he would be treading on thin ice as the very idea of the MPBF would run contrary to the Constitution..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20110922com5.html