During the oral arguments, Leonen said it is the people who can make the changes they want in the system.
He said that even without the PDAF, the lawmakers can still utilize congressional insertions to get funding for their pet projects.
“There is nothing that the court can do because that is the political department, it will depend upon the people’s will and how the people react on how their representatives act in the House and Senate,” he said.
“It is unfair that the only burden in correcting the system rests with the court. Shouldn’t we actually say thay it is within the executive and legislative and we will do our part in terms of correcting it,” he added.
Leonen said that even if the court declares PDAF as unconstitutional “still there are a lot of work to be done” as it is public vigilance that will spell the difference.
“It is not us who are the saviors but the Filipino people working through the department, making them accountable that will be saviors in this problem,” he said.
Leonen also asked petitioners’ counsel, lawyer Alfredo Molo III, if they are not creating a dangerous precedent in asking the court to declare PDAF as unconstitutional. The latter replied in negative.
“No. We have identified the clear violation on the Constitution and that is what we want to be corrected,” Molo said. — BM, GMA News
