854 Phil. 658
HERNANDO, J.:
May I respectfully request that the Court of Appeals be allowed to budget the following amounts to defray the cost of the expenses relative to the retirement of the Presiding Justice and Associate Justices, to wit:Acting on the aforequoted letter, the Court issued a Resolution[2] dated February 19, 2019 requiring the Fiscal Management and Budget Office (FMBO) to comment thereon within 30 days from notice.
a) For a retiring Presiding Justice not to exceed Two Million Pesos (P2,000,000.00); and b) For a retiring Associate Justice not to exceed One Million Eight Hundred [Thousand] Pesos (P1,800,000.00)
subject to liquidation in accordance with applicable accounting and auditing rules.
May I further request for a yearly increase often percent (10%) in the aforesaid budget to cushion the effects of inflation.
A certification from our Chief of Fiscal Management and Budget Division and the Chief Accountant as to the availability of funds for the said purpose is attached to this letter.[1]
IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, we respectfully recommend the following budgets for the activities in connection with the retirement of the Presiding Justice and Associate Justice of the Court of Appeals, subject to a yearly increase of ten percent (10%) to cushion the effects of inflation, chargeable against the savings from the regular appropriations of the Court of Appeals and subject further to availability of funds:After a judicious consideration of all important factors, the Court deems it appropriate to grant an increase in the retirement program budgets for the retiring members of the Court of Appeals in the amounts of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP1,500,000.00) for a Presiding Justice and One Million Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP1,200,000.00) for an Associate Justice. These amounts are partway between Presiding Justice Barza's proposed budgets and Atty. Ferrer-Flores's recommended budgets.
1) For a retiring Presiding Justice - not to exceed ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (P1,200,000.00); and 2) For a retiring Associate Justice - not to exceed ONE MILLION PESOS (P1,000,000.00).00.[3]
Thus, it is readily apparent that the retirement program budget for retiring members of the Court of Appeals is due for an update and/or adjustment.
Court/Position Number of Justices Current Budget
(PhP)Supreme Court Chief Justice 1 2,420,000.00Supreme Court Associate Justice 14 2,200,000.00Court of Appeals Presiding or Associate Justice 69 200,000.00Sandiganbayan Presiding or Associate Justice 21 450,000.00CTA Presiding or Associate Justice 9 650,000.00
a) | For a retiring Presiding Justice - not to exceed ONE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PhP1,500,000.00); and |
b) | For a retiring Associate Justice - not to exceed ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PhP1,200,000.00). |