SC unsatisfied with House's plan to return funds under 2012 budget

The Supreme Court (SC) is not satisfied by the House of Representative’s plan to return P2 billion of the judiciary’s proposed 2012 budget for unfilled positions originally placed in a special purpose fund. SC spokesperson and court administrator Jose Midas Marquez said Tuesday that the plan still violates the 1987 Constitution since it bans agencies with fiscal autonomy from using their funds for purposes other than personnel benefits. “Meron pa ring qualification subject to provision that this will be spent in the filling up of position. Kung magkakaroon ng ganoong provision, that may still run against fiscal autonomy," he said at the sidelines of a congressional inquiry. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said in a press briefing that the lower chamber is “going in the direction" of adopting House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman’s proposal for a compromise on the issue surrounding the Miscellaneous Personnel Benefit Fund (MPBF). “I wouldn’t want to tangle with them [fiscally autonomous agencies] on that issue kasi meron din namang talagang constitutional provisions," he said. Two weeks ago, Lagman proposed to release the P23.4-billion MPBF to fiscally autonomous agencies, with provisions for limiting its use to fill up vacant posts. The MPBF is a special purpose fund introduced by the executive into the proposed P1.816-trillion budget for next year, supposedly to ensure transparency in the handling of government money. No need to limit Marquez however maintained that there is no need to limit the judiciary’s power to decide on how it will use its funds, since auditing safeguards are already in place. “I can assure you, [the funds are] all for legal and lawful purposes. The Commission on Audit is always there [on] our backs to check that all these are spent in accordance with law in conformity," he said. He however said that the judiciary will just wait for Congress’ decision and not immediately challenge the plans of the House. “This version would still go up to the Senate. Siguro, it would be best for us to wait," he said. Last week, SC lawyers and employees staged a protest against the lower chamber’s move to approve the impounding of a portion of the judiciary’s proposed P15-billion funds for next year into the MPBF. — VS, GMA News