VP Sara Duterte skips 2nd hearing on OVP budget

Metro Manila, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte and her agency’s entire staff have skipped the second House committee deliberations on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed 2025 budget on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

Duterte remained adamant that the OVP “defers entirely to the discretion and judgment of the (Appropriations) Committee regarding its budget proposal for 2025.”

It was the same response that got the ire of House lawmakers, turning a usual swift budget hearing for the OVP into a heated and chaotic one last August.

In a letter to House Speaker Martin Romualdez dated Sept. 10, Tuesday, the vice president said the OVP has submitted “all necessary documentation” to the lower chamber's appropriations panel on the proposed ₱2.037 billion for next year.

The committee resumed the budget hearing despite the slim attendance — just a handful of officials from other government offices, including the Department of Budget and Management and Commission on Audit (COA), are present.

“She may not like our questions last hearing, she may not like being questioned about the OVP expenses, she may not like sitting with us here in the House, but she is accountable to the people,” Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said in a manifestation.

Duterte is being criticized for her use of confidential funds in 2022. Such action has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

Lawmakers have learned the COA issued a Notice of Disallowance for the ₱73 million in confidential funds disbursed by the OVP.

NewsWatch Plus’ Jelo Ritzhie Mantaring and Lance Mejico contributed to this report.