"x x x.
|
MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said yesterday that the judiciary has other sources of allowances even if President Aquino scrapped the monthly stipend for justices and judges based on the proposed P2-trillion national budget for next year.
“From what I understand, they have other funds where they can derive the special allowances. So perhaps that is something that they can also look into,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
“I’m quite sure that they have already coordinated, that there have already been discussions between them and the Department of Budget and Management,” she said over radio dzRB.
Beginning next year, Aquino wants billions in fees being collected by the judiciary from litigants and people getting clearances and other documents turned over to the treasury and made part of the general fund, instead of being kept by the Supreme Court and used for the payment of additional allowances.
Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco and Court Administrator Midas Marquez protested the scrapping of their allowances during the House appropriations committee hearing on the proposed P17.7-billion budget for the judiciary for next year. They said they wanted the allowances restored.
The committee learned that SC justices were now getting gross monthly pay of about P130,000 and should no longer be paid additional allowances ranging from P30,000 to P50,000.
Some committee members said even Aquino would not get such level of compensation.
“From what I understand, they have other funds where they can derive the special allowances. So perhaps that is something that they can also look into,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said.
“I’m quite sure that they have already coordinated, that there have already been discussions between them and the Department of Budget and Management,” she said over radio dzRB.
Beginning next year, Aquino wants billions in fees being collected by the judiciary from litigants and people getting clearances and other documents turned over to the treasury and made part of the general fund, instead of being kept by the Supreme Court and used for the payment of additional allowances.
Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco and Court Administrator Midas Marquez protested the scrapping of their allowances during the House appropriations committee hearing on the proposed P17.7-billion budget for the judiciary for next year. They said they wanted the allowances restored.
The committee learned that SC justices were now getting gross monthly pay of about P130,000 and should no longer be paid additional allowances ranging from P30,000 to P50,000.
Some committee members said even Aquino would not get such level of compensation.
x x x."
