SC junks petition on judiciary’s independence, fiscal autonomy

The Supreme Court of the Philippines building in Manila, Philippines. Photo by Mike Gonzalez / Wikimedia Commons.

MANILA  — The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday dismissed the petition seeking the independence and fiscal autonomy of the judiciary.

The petition for mandamus, entitled “Save the Supreme Court Judicial Independence against the Abolition of the Judiciary Development Fund (JDF) and Reduction of Fiscal Autonomy”, was filed by Rolly Mijares.

In his petition, Mijares urged the SC to compel its ranks to assert the independence and fiscal autonomy of the judiciary from the harassment of the Congress.

The petition is in connection with a resolution filed by two members of the House of Representatives urging a review of the JDF.

The SC said that the petitioner failed to comply with the requisites for the mandamus being sought.

It added that Mijares also failed to explain his capacity or legal standing to file the petition for mandamus.