Read Bongbong Marcos Birthday Greetings for Sara Duterte Here
BONGBONG MARCOS – President Bongbong Marcos greeted Vice President Sara Duterte, who celebtrated her 46th birthday.
Despite his “complicated” relationship with her family, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos extended birthday greetings to Vice President Sara Duterte on her 46th birthday on Friday.
Marcos conveyed his well wishes on Facebook and Instagram, emphasizing his efforts to maintain good relations with Duterte, despite the frequent criticism of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and his former aides.
“Happy birthday, Inday Sara! Your hard work and love for our country inspire our youth and our teachers,” Marcos wrote in a mix of English and Filipino. “Let us continue working for a strong education system under a new Philippines!”
This greeting came just two days after the Vice President petitioned the Supreme Court to dismiss claims challenging the constitutionality of the P125 million confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2022.
READ ALSO: Sara Duterte Thanks Marcos For Continued Trust In Her As DepEd Chief
In a joint response, Duterte, through former Solicitor General Estelito Mendoza, argued that the “petitions are mere apprehension and speculation about contingent funds or confidential funds, which do not constitute a justiciable controversy.”
Mendoza asserted that the petitioners failed to present any actual case or controversy or demonstrate any injury or difficulty arising from the act they contested.
However, the petitioners contended that the OVP’s request, receipt, and use of the funds without congressional authorization violated the Constitution, which mandates that no money shall be paid out of the Treasury except through an appropriation made by law.
The petitioners, including groups led by former Comelec Chair Christian Monsod, former presidential spokesperson Barry Gutierrez, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Howard Calleja, the ACT Teachers party list, and the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives, argued that the Office of the President’s release of the P125 million lacked legal basis due to the absence of congressional appropriation in the 2022 General Appropriations Act. They emphasized that the Executive branch cannot create its own budget outside the appropriations law.
They further stated that appropriation laws regarding discretionary funds and lump sums should be strictly interpreted as they are exceptions to Congress’ appropriation power.
Finally, they urged the Supreme Court to declare the funds “fully auditable” and subject to thorough auditing by the Commission of Audit to detect any corruption and irregularities.