FACT CHECK: SC did not declare grounds for impeachment vs Marcos over 2024 budget

Claim: The Supreme Court (SC) ruled that the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is unconstitutional and declared grounds for impeachment against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: A YouTube video uploaded on December 6 carried the title, “Korte hinatulan si BBM! Impeachment ground na ito!” (The court has ruled against BBM! These are grounds for impeachment!)

The thumbnail shows images of several officials with bold red text that reads “Ground for impeachment.” It also features a quote alleging that the 2024 national budget is unconstitutional. 

Text at the bottom states: “Supreme Court hinatulan na si BBM! Unconstitutional ang 2024 GAA! Ground for impeachment na! Lagot!” 

(The Supreme Court has ruled against BBM! The 2024 GAA is unconstitutional! This already constitutes grounds for impeachment! He’s in trouble!) 

The video’s narration cites statements from Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, framing them as representative of the SC’s official decision against Marcos.

As of writing, the video has garnered more than 22,000 views, 1,700 likes, and 180 comments.

The facts: The Supreme Court did not rule that the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is unconstitutional, nor did it declare grounds for impeachment against Marcos.

In a unanimous decision on the PhilHealth fund transfer case, the High Court struck down Special Provision 1(d) of the 2024 GAA, which authorized the return of the fund balance or the excess reserve funds of government-owned or controlled corporations to the National Treasury. The SC did not rule that the entire GAA is unconstitutional.

The SC also upheld the validity of Marcos certifying the 2024 GAA as urgent, saying the President acted within his authority.

Leonen, however, disagreed. In his separate opinion, Leonen wrote that Marcos committed “grave abuse of discretion” by issuing a certification of urgency for the 2024 budget and argued that the entire 2024 GAA is unconstitutional.

According to Leonen, the certification of urgency “did not warrant the immediate enactment of House Bill No. 8980 (GAA bill 2024) as the circumstances of the case reveal that no public calamity or emergency existed at that time.”

The misleading YouTube video falsely frames Leonen’s opinion as the unanimous ruling of the Supreme Court. In reality, it reflects a single justice’s views. The Court did not adopt Leonen’s position that the 2024 budget was unconstitutional.

Leonen also never explicitly stated that Marcos’ issuance of a certification of urgency constitutes grounds for impeachment.

PhilHealth case: In the ruling penned by Associate Justice Amy Lazaro Javier, the High Court ordered the return of P60 billion in PhilHealth funds earlier transferred to the National Treasury and permanently barred the transfer of the remaining P29.9-billion fund balance.

The decision stemmed from petitions filed by several groups and public health advocates that sought to block the order of the Department of Finance to transfer P89.9 billion in “excess” PhilHealth funds to the national treasury.

No “impeachment”: Marcos has weathered waves of impeachment and resignation rumors, especially after the explosive investigations into the controversial flood control projects and the bicam insertions revealed by former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who implicated Marcos as a key figure in these controversies. (READ: Zaldy Co, whistleblower?) 

To date, no impeachment complaint has prospered against Marcos, and the President has shut down any talks of stepping down. 

Rappler has fact-checked several impeachment claims about Marcos in the past: 

• FACT CHECK: No impeachment complaint vs Marcos
• FALSE: Justice Leonen impeached, Bongbong Marcos wins electoral protest
• FACT CHECK: Supreme Court did not file charges vs Marcos

– Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com

Efren Cyril Bocar is a journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar who graduated with a degree in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. Cyril is also a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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