New Law Gives Fiscal Autonomy to Judiciary

President Marcos signed into law yesterday a measure strengthening the judiciary's fiscal autonomy, in an event that gathered together lawmakers and Supreme Court justices weeks after the SC struck down as unconstitutional the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

- By Alexis Romero

The Judiciary Fiscal Autonomy Act strengthens the constitutional guarantee that the judiciary shall enjoy fiscal autonomy, and ensures that its budget will be automatically and regularly released and not be reduced below the previous year's outlay.

Republic Act No. 12233 places safeguards to ensure that the judiciary can execute its roles more independently and more efficiently.

"This is how we promote transparency and accountability. This is how we do checks and balances. This is how democracy works - by respecting the role each branch plays, while exercising our duty to ensure that no branch acts beyond what the Constitution allows," Marcos said during the signing ceremony yesterday at Malacañang.