Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 22) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed two provisions in the 2024 national budget seeking a revolving fund for the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the implementation of the National Government’s Career Executive Service Development Program (NGCESDP).
The Palace on Friday said the chief executive wrote to the House of Representatives on Dec. 20 where he explained his decision to get rid of some items in the planned spending.Based on the letter, Marcos said there was “no law” allowing the DOJ to create a revolving fund.“It may be emphasized that the service fees sought to be charged and collected are to be imposed upon complaints and affidavits filed with the National Prosecution Service, and petitions for review filed before the DOJ, when, in fact, such pleadings are filed with the said agencies by virtue of their jurisdiction vested by law,” he said.Marcos also said the charges being collected “are clearly not from business-type activities within the contemplation of the General Provision on Revolving Funds in the GAA…”In rejecting the implementation of the NGCESDP, the president said it “does not relate to any particular appropriation in this Budget.”He then cited a presidential decree that paved the way for the creation of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB).“PD No. 336 further delineated the functions of the CESB as the governing body of the Career Executive Service (CES) and the Development Academy of the Philippines is tasked to prepare a CES program appropriate and necessary for the organization and operation of the CES, and in consultation with the CESB, initiate and continue to implement the aforesaid program,” he said.“Moreover, Section 8 (2), Chapter 2, Subtitle A, Title I, Book V of Executive Order (EO) No. 292, s. 1987 (Administrative Code of 1987), also considered a substantive law, expressly prescribed that entrance to the third level career service position shall be prescribed by the CESB,” Marcos added.The president signed into law on Wednesday the ₱5.768 trillion government budget for next year.
