Militants yesterday haled Budget Secretary Florencio Abad to the Supreme Court for putting a cap on one of the monetary benefits of state workers.

In a petition, COURAGE – a national organization of government workers – questioned the legality of Budget Circular 2011-5 which placed a cap on their Collective Negotiations Agreement Incentive.

Also, the group asked the court to issue a temporary restraining freezing the questioned circular while their case against Abad is pending.

The group stressed the Department of Budget and Management committed grave abuse of discretion and usurpation of authority when it issued the circular.

Also charged was former civil society leader now Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman.

Ferdinand Gaite, COURAGE president, pointed out the SC should admonish the DBM for usurping the legislative power of Congress.

“DBM Budget Circular 2011-5 transgressed not only the powers of Congress to enact laws but also government employees’ right to self-organization. Employees are now facing refund orders on the money they worked hard for and they already spent last December,” COURAGE said in a statement.

Joining COURAGE in the petition were the Social Welfare Employees Association of the Philippines-DSWD, National Federation of Employees Associations of the Department of Agriculture (NAFEDA), and the Department of Agrarian Reform Employees’ Association (DAREA).