A petition was filed on Friday before the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the enforcement of the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and challenging the constitutionality of the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
The petition was filed by various groups including the1Sambayan Coalition and SANLAKAS for certiorari and prohibition with application for status quo ante order and/or temporary restraining order (TRO).
“From the foregoing, AKAP, as it is crafted under the 2025 GAA (General Appropriations Act), has the badges of a congressional pork barrel,” the 92-page petition read.
Also among the petitioners are former SC Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, and former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno.
There is no prohibition in the distribution of P26.159 billion AKAP funds against members of the legislative department, the petitioners asserted.
They argued that as it was, the 2025 GAA paves the way for lawmakers to participate in the distribution of the social welfare program.
They charged that enactment of the AKAP “effectively allowed” the interference of lawmakers even after the enactment of the law.
Petitioners likewise argued that the budget measure was in violation of the Doctrine of Separation of Powers and the SC ruling in Belgica vs. Executive Secretary.
Other provisions also questioned included the zero government subsidy for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).