PBBM Vetoes Proposed DOJ Revolving Fund

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vetoed certain sections of the 2024 General Appropriations Act related to the Department of Justice (DOJ) revolving fund and the Implementation of the National Government’s Career Executive Service Development Program.

President Marcos cited a Supreme Court pronouncement, stating that inappropriate provisions inappropriately amend other laws and have no place in an appropriations bill. I Photo: Department of Justice -Philippines Facebook

In a letter dated December 20 addressed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other House members, President Marcos stated, “In accordance with my constitutional mandate to ensure that laws are faithfully executed, I am obliged to veto Department of Justice (DOJ)-Office of the Secretary (OSEC), Special Provision No. 1, ‘DOJ Revolving Fund,’ Volume I-A, page 1119, inasmuch as there is no law which authorizes the DOJ to establish a revolving fund for the purpose indicated therein.”

He emphasized that the service fees sought to be charged and collected are imposed upon complaints and affidavits filed with the National Prosecution Service and petitions for review filed before the DOJ.

These charges are not from business-type activities, as permitted by the General Provision on Revolving Funds in the GAA.

President Marcos cited a Supreme Court pronouncement, stating that inappropriate provisions inappropriately amend other laws and have no place in an appropriations bill. These matters should be addressed in separate enactments as they involve general legislation.

Additionally, President Marcos vetoed Section 38 under the General Provisions related to the “Implementation of National Government’s Career Executive Service Development Program (NGCESDP).”

He argued that this section does not relate to any particular appropriation in the budget and highlighted existing laws, such as Presidential Decree No. 336 and Executive Order No. 292, that govern the Career Executive Service.

The President signed Republic Act No. 11975, the General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024, into law on Wednesday.

The P5.768-trillion national budget, equivalent to 21.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), was designed to sustain the country’s high-growth trajectory and is the key to unlocking the Administration’s goals for the country’s economic transformation.

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