The SC En Banc acted on the petition Tuesday, granting the respondents a non-extendible 10-day deadline to submit their comments. The petitioners argue that Republic Act No. 12116, or the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), is unconstitutional due to alleged blank items in the bicameral report. Additionally, they claim the budget:
- fails to allocate mandatory funding for the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth),
- unlawfully increases appropriations beyond the President’s recommendations, and
- prioritizes infrastructure spending over education