Hello, Philstar readers! I'm Camille Diola from Philstar.com, covering the oral arguments at the Supreme Court.
Commission on Audit chair Gracia Pulido-Tan will still be present in the second round of arguments today as amicus curiae - friend of the court.
We'll also be fetching some updates from the SC Information Office to help us out on the technicalities and clarifications.
We're also fetching tweets by SC PIO chief Atty. Theodore Te.
While waiting for the arguments to start, let's do a quick survey.
In the last session, we heard from the petitioners' side arguing against the institution of the Priority Development Assistance Funds, commonly known as "pork barrel."
This time, we will hear first form Solicitor General Jardaleza for the defense of the PDAF.
"Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye."
"The court is now in session."
The session has been opened.
Clerk of court calling out the cases or petitions filed questioning the legal basis of the PDAF
Appearing as counsels of petitioners are lawyers Samson Alcantara, Nikko Valderama, Romina Dalagan.
SolGen Francis Jardaleza represents public respondents side.
Jardeleza will be given 30 minutes to argue today.,
Jardaleza now opening his argument.
Jardaleza:
I will present before you arguments on the constitutional basis of the PDAF, Malampaya and the President's Social Fund.
Jardaleza:
We will submit and hope to show to you that on the PDAF, the text of its provisions, on their face are all constitutionally valid.
Jardaleza:
We will walk you through our evidence packet, through the verbatim text on all six provisions of the PDAF.
Jardaleza:
We will show you that none of the six provisions are invalid
Jardaleza:
We will do this to meet head on that PDAF is not facially unconstitutional.
Jardaleza was alluding to last sessions' arguments of Justice Carpio who said it is "facially unconstitutional" as it breaches the powers of the executive and the legislative.
Jardaleza:
We will walk you through the COA report to show to you that there are four and only four audit findings over matters of execution.
Jardaleza:
Despite these 4 references against members of Congress, these audit findings do not justify the abandonment of the Philconsa ruling.
Jardaleza:
Misuse of the PDAF should better be resolved through policy changes.
Jardeleza:
For all the sins for the implementation of the PDAF, there will be a time to punish the errant and the corrupt. But we will plead to you that time is not on the side of the patients, and time is not on the side of the scholars (innocent beneficiaries of the PDAF).
Jardaleza:
(Citing his "evidence packet" presented the magistrates) Over the years, these restraints and these constraints have become stricter on the president.
Jardaleza:
Preference is given to projects for sixth-class municipalities.
To recall, arguments last Tuesday against the PDAF dwelt on the overlap of executive and legislative powers and roles, which the petitioners said is against the constitution.
Jardaleza:
(On PDAF allocation) P60 million for the members of Congress and P200 million for members of the Senate.
