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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider VP Duterte explains refusal to answer OVP budget questions

VP Duterte explains refusal to answer OVP budget questions

Published Sep 9, 2024 03:36 am

Vice President Sara Duterte said that her refusal to answer questions during the first budget deliberations for the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed 2025 budget was because it was being used by some lawmakers to attack her.

VPSD_Liloan.jpgVice President Sara Duterte (Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook)

 

In a videotaped interview, a transcript of which was released by the OVP on Monday, Sept. 9, Duterte also cited that the country’s coffers are on the hands of “two people,” though she didn’t mention names.

“Unang-una, dahil nakikita namin na ginagamit siya ng ibang mga miyembro, iilan na mga miyembro ng Kongreso para umatake sa akin dahil hindi kami magkasama sa pulitika (First, because we saw that it was being used by some members of Congress to attack me because we are not from the same political side),” she said.

“Pangalawa, kasi ang budget ng Pilipinas ay hawak lang ng dalawang tao (Second, because the budget of the Philippines is controlled by only two people),” the official claimed.

Duterte faced the House appropriations panel on Aug. 27 to defend her proposed P2.037-billion budget for 2025.

However, she eventually told lawmakers that she will forego the opportunity to defend her budget and will instead defer to the wisdom of Congress.

Refuting claims that she acted like a “bratinella (spoiled brat)” during the hearing, Duterte insisted she understands that Congress has the “power of the purse” and that agencies and government officials must submit themselves before it as stated in the Constitution.

“Kinikilala natin 'yan kaya nga pumunta tayo doon sa Senate hearing. Pumunta tayo doon sa House of Representatives na hearing dahil nagpresenta tayo ng budget (We recognize that, which was why we went to the Senate hearing. We went to the House of Representatives hearing to present the budget),” she explained.

The official likewise said that it is also important for her that the public understands where the OVP’s budget will be spent.

This, she added, was the reason why a breakdown of the proposed budget was published on the OVP’s website and social media accounts even before she faced both chambers of Congress.

Duterte is expected to face the House committee on appropriations once more on Tuesday, Sept. 10, after the panel deferred its approval last Aug. 27.

The inquiry into the Vice President’s budget for 2025 was a stark contrast to how the House panel swiftly passed the OVP’s budget for 2023 and 2024.

Related Tags

ovp budget Sara Duterte
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