Senators differ on Duterte outbursts impact on budget
Metro Manila, Philippines – Senators differed on the impact of Vice President Sara Duterte’s outbursts and verbal threats against the president to her push for a higher budget for her office in 2025.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said her outbursts and verbal threats against the chief executive could jeopardize her push for more funding.
Pimentel made the statement on Monday, Nov. 25, when asked about Duterte’s fiery public remarks, including her admission of asking someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza Araneta Marcos, and his cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she were ever assassinated.
“This latest development can affect the budget of the OVP (Office of the Vice President). We may decide that with her behavior, she and her office do not deserve more budget,” Pimentel said in a text message.
The OVP’s proposed budget for next year is currently at P733 million, following a P1.3 billion reduction by the House of Representatives and the Senate committee on finance.
“Also we need to get the identity of that person that VP talked to, who gave her that assurance that he can carry out the assassinations. Who is that person?” said.
The Justice Department said it considers Duterte a "self-confessed mastermind" in a plot to assassinate the president, making her the subject of an investigation and subpoena.
Poe: No effect on budget
Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on finance, said the OVP budget should not be affected by Duterte’s flare-up, emphasizing that budgets are not based on personalities.
When asked if the panel would restore the OVP’s P2-billion budget request, Poe replied, “Tingnan niyo na lang bukas, pinapapirma ko na yung committee report [Just wait for the committee report, I'm having it signed].”
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, a Duterte ally, said the OVP needs more funding.
He also defended his decision to assist Duterte and her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, where Lopez was confined for health issues. This came after the House of Representatives ordered her transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong, citing security risks posed by Duterte’s unauthorized stay at the Batasang Pambansa to be with Lopez.
“‘Yung bise presidente, umiiyak, humihingi ng tulong… So, ako in my private capacity not as a senator, in my private capacity as her friend, pumunta ako para tingnan yung sitwasyon niya,” Dela Rosa said in a separate chance interview.
“Nag-interfere ba ko kung saan nila gustong ikulong? Wala. I just saw to it na okay sila,” he added.
[Translation: The vice president is crying, asking for help… So, I, in my private capacity, not as a senator, in my private capacity as her friend, went to check on her situation. Did I interfere with where they wanted to imprison her? No. I just made sure they were okay.]
Calls for calm
Senator Jinggoy Estrada said he is praying for tensions to de-escalate and urged groups to avoid divisive actions, such as the call from Duterte supporters to mobilize at historic EDSA.
“Tama na yung EDSA uno, tama na yung EDSA dos. Tama na. We don’t need that right now. There’s a lot of pressing problems in our country that need to be attended to,” Estrada said.
He believes the president’s sister, Senator Imee Marcos, who is also a friend of Duterte, could play a key role in facilitating the reconciliation.
Marcos declined to comment.
Senator JV Ejercito said he refused to engage in political bickering.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero earlier called on Duterte’s allies “to advise her to refrain from making these indecorous and possibly criminal statements in public.”
Last week, Senator Joel Villanueva mentioned that at least eight lawmakers, including himself, were in favor of increasing the OVP budget.
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, however, said she would vote against any motion to add funds to the OVP’s budget unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
