Manila, Feb. 4 -- The Supreme Court has directed Congress and the Executive department to comment on petitions challenging the constitutionality of RA 12116 or the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

During its en banc session on Tuesday, the SC acted on the petition for certiorari and prohibition filed against Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Senate President Francis Escudero.

The SC directed the respondents to file a comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice.

The petition was filed by former executive secretary Victor Rodriguez, Isidro Ungab, and Rogelio Mendoza arguing that the GAA is unconstitutional for failing to allocate mandatory fundin...