The Supreme Court has directed the Marcos Jr. administration, through the Office of the Solicitor General, to submit the original copy of the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) and the 2025 General Appropriations Enrolled Bill amid growing concerns over irregularities in the national budget.
The order comes as part of ongoing deliberations on a petition challenging the 2025 National Budget. The petition arose after discrepancies were discovered in the bicameral conference committee (bicam) report, where blank sections were found in the budget bill.
The submission of the original copy will allow for a thorough comparison between the enrolled and non-enrolled versions of the 2025 budget bill, potentially uncovering any unauthorized amendments or insertions.
The petition was filed before the Supreme Court by former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez and Congressman Isidro Ungab, questioning the constitutionality of the 2025 National Budget.
Meanwhile, former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has alleged that an additional ₱241 billion was inserted into the 2025 General Appropriations Act, distributed across 12 blank items in the bicam report.
The Supreme Court’s order highlights the growing concerns over transparency and accountability in the national budget process. Lawmakers and watchdog groups are closely monitoring the proceedings, as the case could set a precedent for future budget deliberations and government spending oversight.