Renowned lawyer and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, along with several other lawyers, priests, and law students, have petitioned the High Court to invalidate Executive Order No. 2 and Joint Circular No. 2015-01 governing the disbursement of confidential funds.
The petitioners argue that these guidelines are repugnant to the 1987 Constitution, particularly Section 28, Article II, which advocates for full disclosure. They contend that the release and disbursement of confidential funds violate this provision, as well as Section 7, Article III, which recognizes the right to information on matters of public concern.
The petitioners also called upon Congress to enact a law providing reasonable limitations on confidential funds, ensuring transparency and accountability in their use. They emphasized that current regulations lack the force of law, making it difficult to establish clear standards for these funds.
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