Tinio: SC ruling on budgets ‘affirms’ bid to impeach Marcos Jr. in January

MANILA — The Supreme Court ruling on unconstitutional items in the 2026 national budgets and those in previous years “affirms” the endorsement of an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier this year, ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. Antonio Tinio said.

Representatives of activist groups tried to impeach Marcos Jr. for “massive misallocation of funds” in January but the House justice committee dismissed the complaint.

On Tuesday, the High Court declared that the 2024 and 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and special provisions of the 2026 budget were unconstitutional.

Tinio said the Makabayan bloc has been saying that the wide discretion given to the executive branch on discretionary is abusive and unconstitutional.

“Tapos affirmed din ang naging posisyon ng Makabayan na dapat panagutin ang mga implementors. In this case, nangungunang implementor ay ang pangulo. At paano mo pananagutin ang pangulo? Sa pamamagitan ng impeachment,” he said.

(Makabayan’s position to hold implementers accountable has also been affirmed. In this case, the president is the lead implementor. And how do you hold a president accountable? Through impeachment.)

He said the SC decision shows there was basis to impeach Marcos Jr. but could not confirm whether activists in the national democratic movement will file a new complaint.

“Abangan na lang natin kung magfa-file muli ang Makabayan. Pero malinaw na lalong pinalakas ang basis dahil nga kailangang panagutin si Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr.,” he said.

(Let us just see if the Makabayan bloc will file again. But what is clear is that there is even stronger basis to do so because President Bongbong Marcos Jr. must be held accountable.)

The Makabayan bloc has also meanwhile called for the recall of House Bill 10858 on the proposed 2027 budget in light of the Supreme Court’s decision.

Kabataan Party-List Rep. Renee Co said the budget bill might have potentially unconstitutional provisions.

“Kung hindi rin po makita na ‘yung mga iskema na nabuyangyang na sa Korte Suprema ay uulitin lang dito sa 2027 GAA. Baka ma-delay at hindi mapasa ‘yung budget natin nang naaayon sa batas,” Co said. 

(If we do not find the schemes that were exposed at the Supreme Court, there might be a repeat in the 2027 GAA. This budget might be delayed or it might not pass according to the law.)

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Sarah Elago said the budget must be corrected before Congress passes it.

“The Senate and the Bicameral Conference Committee must also ensure that no insertions are again hidden behind unclear allocations,” Elago said.