Mandamus ‘moot’ if 2019 budget is approved

Earlier, Diokno said the last tranche of pay hike can only be released once Congress approves the national budget. (File Photo: Department of Budget and Management)

MANILA — A petition for mandamus compelling Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno to release the fourth tranche of government workers’ pay hike becomes moot and academic once the 2019 national budget is passed, Malacañang said on Thursday.

“If the budget is approved, then the petition becomes moot and academic,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Panelo expressed confidence that the budget will be approved soon after speaking to House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I think so. I was with Speaker Arroyo. She mentioned that most likely it will pass,” he said.

“I am sure they will be passing that. They’re all concerned with the services, infrastructures that will be affected,” he added.

Panelo said the budget will most likely be passed by the first or second week of February.

On Jan. 14, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. filed the petition for the release of salary hike for around 1.3 million government workers before the Supreme Court (SC).

The SC has set the deliberation on the petition on January 22.

Earlier, Diokno said the last tranche of pay hike can only be released once Congress approves the national budget.

Panelo supported the Department of Budget and Management chief’s stand since the release of the salary increase under the Salary Standardization Law (SSL) of 2015 will be sourced from the General Appropriations Act.