DBM offers conditional release of judiciary fund; SC says ‘no’

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang will release P2 billion in judiciary funds transferred to a new item in the budget called the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund (MPBF) once vacant positions in government are filled, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad yesterday said.

However, the Supreme Court (SC) rejected Abad’s offer, saying the fiscal autonomy of the judiciary should not be compromised.

Abad said he already discussed the matter with Court Administrator and SC spokesman Jose Midas Marquez and agreed on the release of the funds.

“The provisions of the Constitution on fiscal autonomy and non-reduction of the budget for the judiciary are plain and simple. They need no interpretation, just simple application,” Marquez told The STAR in reaction to Abad’s offer.

“Savings will always be used for lawful purposes subject to COA’s accounting and auditing rules, and in accordance with the court’s fiscal autonomy. The Constitution cannot be compromised,” Marquez added.

Abad said there are about 67,000 posts in the government that have remained vacant for a long time. He said among the agencies with huge vacancies are the Office of the Ombudsman with 49 percent unfilled posts and the Commission on Audit with 42 percent.

He said many government posts are not filled up due to the lack of qualified people and the low salary offered by the government.

“We like to assert that the values of transparency and accountability and fiscal autonomy should not be mutually exclusive. They co-exist as principles of financial management,” he said.

Abad also gave assurance that the government continues to respect the fiscal autonomy of agencies even if they are implementing reforms in the way funds are released.

On Monday, court employees wore black to oppose the proposed P2-billion cut in the judiciary’s budget for next year.

Sen. Joker Arroyo has warned that a constitutional crisis might ensue if Malacañang continues to pick a fight with the judiciary over the impounding of funds.

Palace officials, however, disputed Arroyo’s claim, saying the government is merely implementing reforms to ensure that funds are used properly. Malacañang also expressed readiness to talk to court employees to address their concerns and to explain the budget process. –-Alexis Romero (The Philippine Star) with Edu Punay