ACT-Teachers Partylist Rep. France Castro hopes that the Supreme Court will immediately act on the petition that seeks to void the certification of the proposed Maharlika Invesment Fund as urgent.
The petition also sought to void the passage of House Bill 6608, also known as the Maharlika Investment Fund Act, in third and final reading.
"Inaasahan natin na i-urgent ito kasi ito ay question of law. Tapos, ito ay dinidinig sa Senado kaya kailangan ito ay mapagpasiyahan agad," Castro said on Tuesday, February 14, during DZRH's Magandang Umaga Pilipinas.
Castro, Gabriela Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raoul Manuel filed the petition for certiorari and prohibition on Monday, February 13, at the Supreme Court.
The petitioners also urged the Supreme Court to establish parameters or standards for the Chief Executive to exercise the power to declare a bill as urgent.
Castro insists that the President can only declare a proposed measure as urgent if the bill involves a public calamity or emergency.
"Kapag may ganitong sinasabi na urgent, dapat ito ay nakasunod sa batas at sa Constitution," the congresswoman stressed.
"Tuwing emergency and calamity, iyon lamang yung sinasabi sa Constitution na hindi nasunod nitong pag-certify urgent ni (President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.) ng Maharlika Investment Fund," he added.
