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Maria Carolina P. Araullo, et al. Vs. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, President of the Republic of the Philippines, et al. [ Concurring and Dissenting Opinion J. Del Castillo ]

G.R. No. 209135 -Augusto L. Syjuco, Jr., Ph.D., petitioner v. Florencio B. Abad, in his capacity as the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, Hon. Franklin Magtunao Drilon, in his capacity as the Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines, respondents; G.R. No. 209136 - Manuelito R. Luna, petitioner v. Secretary Florencio B. Abad, in his official capacity as Head of the Department of Budget and Management, and Executive Secretary Paquito N Ochoa, Jr., in his official capacity as Alter Ego of the President, respondents; G.R. No. 209155 -Atty. Jose Malvar Villegas, petitioner v. The Honorable Secretary Paquito N Ochoa, Jr. and The Secretary of Budget and Management Florencio B. Abad, respondents; G.R. No. 209164 - Philippine Constitution .Association (PHILCONSA), represented by Dean Froilan M Bacungan, and Benjamin E. Diokno and Leonor M Briones, petitioners v. The Department of Budget and Management and/or Hon. Florencio B. Abad, respondents; G.R. No. 209260 - Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), petitioner v. Secretary Florencio B. Abad of the Department of Budget and Management, respondent; G.R. No. 209287 - Maria Carolina P. Araullo, Chairperson, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Judy M Taguiwalo, Professor, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Co-Chairperson, Pagbabago, Henri Kahn, Concerned Citizens Movement, Rep. Luz Ilagan, Gabriela Women's Party Representative, Rep. Terry L. Ridon, Kabataan Partylist Representative, Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Bayan Muna Partylist Representative, Renato M Reyes, Jr., Secretary General of BAYAN, Manuel K Dayrit, Chairman, Ang Kapatiran Party, Veneer Mari E. Crisostomo, Chairperson, Anakbayan, Victor L. Villanueva, Convenor, Youth Act Now, petitioners v. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III, President of the Republic of the Philippines, Paquito B. Ochoa, Jr., Executive Secretary, and Florencio B. Abad, Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, respondents; G.R. No. 209442 - Greco Antonious Beda B. Belgica, Bishop Reuben M Abante and Rev. Jose L. Gonzales, petitioners v. President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III; The Senate of the Philippines, Represented by Senate President Franklin M Drilon; The House of Representatives, Represented by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.; The Executive Qffice, Represented by Paquito N Ochoa, Jr.; The Department of Budget and Management, Represented by Secretary Florencio Abad; The Department of Finance, Represented by Secretary Cesar Purisima; and The Bureau of Treasury, Represented by Rosalia V. de Leon, respondents; G.R. No. 209517 - Confederation for Unity, Recognition and Advancement of Government Employees [COURAGE], et al., petitioners v. Benigno Simeon C. Aquino, et al., respondents, andG.R. Nos. 209135-36, 209155, 209164, 209260, 209287, 209442, 209517 and 209569 Concurring and Dissenting G.R. No. 209569 - Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), represented by Dante LA. Jimenez, petitioner v. Paquito N Ochoa, Executive , Secretary, and Florencio B. Abad, Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management, respondents. [ Concurring and Dissenting Opinion J. Del Castillo ]

G.R. No. 209287/209135/209136/209155/209164/209260/209442/209517/209569 | 2014-07-01

CONCURRING AND DISSENTING

 


DEL CASTILLO, J.:

 

The present case comes before us at the heels of immense public outrage that followed the discovery of alleged abuses of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) committed by certain legislators involving billions of pesos in public funds. In the seminal case of Belgica v. Ochoa, Jr., 1 the Court declared as unconstitutional, in an unprecedented all-encompassing tenor, the PDAF and its precursors as well as all issuances and practices, past and present, appurtenant thereto, for violating the principles of separation of powers and...