Tense clash between Duterte, Hontiveros over ‘politicizing’ budget

Metro Manila, Philippines – Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros’ simple question about a book distribution program sparked a tense clash between her and Vice President Sara Duterte at a budget hearing on Tuesday.

Hontiveros asked for details about the “Isang Kaibigan” children’s book authored by Duterte herself. The book distribution costs P10 million under the proposed P2.037-billion budget for the Office of the Vice President next year.

“Ang tanong ko po ay ilang mga libro ng ‘Isang Kaibigan’ ay bibilihin at ididistribute at ano, if the VP could tell us more about the contents ng librong ito,” Hontiveros said.

[Translation: My question is how many copies of the "Isang Kaibigan" book will be purchased and distributed, and if the VP could tell us more about the contents of this book.]

Duterte only said the government pays only for the publication, and gave no other detail about its contents.

“We will send Senator Hontiveros a copy so that she will know what is the content of the book,” she said.

Hontiveros insisted that Duterte answer the question. Duterte, on the other hand, accused Hontiveros of “politicizing the budget hearing.”

“Ang problema niya kasi, nakalagay yung pangalan ko doon sa libro. At yung libro na yan, ibibigay namin doon sa mga bata. At yung mga bata na yan, may mga magulang na boboto. At yung pangalan ko ay nagkalat doon sa kung saan man ibibigay yung libro,” Duterte said.

[Translation: Her problem is that my name is on that book, and that book will be given to children. These children have parents who will vote, and my name will be spread wherever the book is distributed.]

This prompted a sharp response from Hontiveros.

“Hindi ko maintindihan yung ugali ng ating resource person. It is a simple question (I don't understand the attitude of our resource person. It was a simple question),” Hontiveros said.

“Ang VP ang nagbanggit ng salitang boboto. Wala akong sinabing boboto. I'm simply asking, hindi ko ma-imagine, we're making so much trouble, so much fuss about a 10-million peso item na itinatanong ko lang simpleng, what is the book about? At ilang kopya ang bibilihin ng gobyerno sa halagang 10 milyong piso at ididistribute,” she added.

[Translation: The VP is the one who mentioned the word "vote." I didn't say anything about voting. I'm simply asking—I can't imagine why we're making such a fuss over a ₱10 million item. I'm just asking what the book is about and how many copies the government will purchase and distribute for ₱10 million.]

“I don't appreciate this kind of attitude, Madam Chair. Usually, ang resource persons natin ay nagbibigay ng parehong institutional courtesy sa legislature na ibinibigay natin sa executive,” she also said.

[Translation: I don't appreciate this kind of attitude, Madam Chair. Usually, our resource persons extend the same institutional courtesy to the legislature that we offer to the executive.]

Duterte said she also does not appreciate Hontiveros' behavior and attitude and then shared that in 2016, the senator sought her support for a senatorial bid.

“Nanalo na siya at nung nanalo siya, anong ginawa niya? Siya ang pinakaunang umatake kay President Rodrigo Duterte. Anong tawag sa ugaling ganito?” said Duterte, eldest daughter of the former president.

[Translation: She won, and when she won, what did she do? She was the first to attack President Rodrigo Duterte. What do you call this kind of behavior?]

At this point, Senate Committee on Finance Chairperson Grace Poe intervened, redirecting the discussion back to Hontiveros' question.

“The explanation is in the title. Isang Kaibigan. It's about friendship,” Duterte responded.

Hontiveros said that was all she was asking.

“Simpleng tanong, dapat simpleng sagot… For the record, as a last point, Madam Chair, this is public funds. And we're making inquiries about them. Budget hearing po ito. Hindi po lahat about you. Pera po ito ng taong bayan,” Hontiveros said.

[Translation: A simple question deserves a simple answer. For the record, as a final point, Madam Chair, this is public funds. We're making inquiries about them. This is a budget hearing. Not everything is about you. This is the people's money.]

The OVP traditionally enjoys courtesy, with its budget typically approved swiftly. However, this time, it took the Senate panel over an hour to pass the budget requested by Duterte. This will next be tackled in plenary.