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Gonzales vs. Macaraig [DISSENTING OPINION, GUTIERREZ, J.]

NEPTALI A. GONZALES, ERNESTO M. MACEDA, ALBERTO G. ROMULO, HEHERSON T. ALVAREZ, EDGARDO J. ANGARA, AGAPITO A. AQUINO, TEOFISTO T. GUINGONA, JR., ERNESTO F. HERRERA, JOSE D. LINA, JR., JOHN OSMEÑA, VICENTE T. PATERNO, RENE A. SAGUISAG, LETICIA RAMOS-SHAHANI, MAMINTAL ABDUL J. TAMANO, WIGBERTO E. TAÑADA, JOVITO R. SALONGA, ORLANDO S. MERCADO, JUAN PONCE ENRILE, JOSEPH ESTRADA, SOTERO LAUREL, AQUILINO PIMENTEL, JR., SANTANINA RASUL, VICTOR ZIGA, PETITIONERS, VS. HON. CATALINO MACARAIG, JR., HON. VICENTE JAYME, HON. CARLOS DOMINGUEZ, HON. FULGENCIO FACTORAN, HON. FIORELLO ESTUAR, HON. LOURDES QUISUMBING, HON. RAUL MANGLAPUS, HON. ALFREDO BENGSON, HON. JOSE CONCEPCION, HON. LUIS SANTOS, HON. MITA PARDO DE TAVERA, HON. RAINERIO REYES, HON. GUILLERMO CARAGUE, HON. ROSALINA CAJUCOM AND HON. EUFEMIO C. DOMINGO, RESPONDENTS.

G.R. No. 87636 | 1990-11-19

DISSENTING OPINION

GUTIERREZ, JR., J.:

I regretfully dissent from the Court's opinion in this case because fundamental principles underlying doctrine of separation of powers were violated when the President vetoed certain previsions of the 1989 and 1990 Appropriation Bills.

I am disturbed by the consequences of the Court's act of legitimation, among them the following:

(1) The traditional power of Congress over the public purse is negated if functions or offices it has abolished or reduced are restored through the grant of carte blanche authority to shift savings from one department or agency to another.  What the Court is sustaining is...