MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos online were quick to share their anger and frustration at Vice President Sara Duterte as she dodged questions about the funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) during a House briefing for the agency’s 2025 budget on Tuesday, August 27.
The Vice President and hashtag #ZeroBudgetForOVP were among the top 10 Philippine trends on X as of writing.
Social media users called on lawmakers to give zero budget to the OVP due to the Vice President’s “rude,” “arrogant,” and “entitled” attitude in answering questions during the House hearing.
During the House briefing, Duterte repeatedly answered: “I would like to forgo the opportunity to defend the budget. I would leave it to the House to decide on the budget submitted.”
Some users said their calls to give the OVP a zero budget should serve as a “wake-up call for more transparent and ethical leadership,” with one user calling on Duterte to resign as Vice President following the hearing.
X user @VampireByOliv said that Duterte’s attitude during the House hearing was “low class” and “unbecoming of a vice president.”
Others also pointed out how Duterte acted toward lawmakers in the Makabayan bloc, saying she was taking their questions personally.
X user @emerjerico also pointed out the irony of using ACT Teachers Representative France Castro’s child abuse conviction by a Davao court as she continues to defend fugitive doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy who is facing allegations of sexual abuse, among other crimes.
Castro and the Makabayan lawmakers were not the first lawmakers to clash with Duterte as the Vice President accused Senator Risa Hontiveros of politicizing the OVP’s funds during a Senate budget hearing on August 20. High emotions were also not limited to the minority blocs in Congress.
Duterte dodged questions during the Senate hearing over P10 million to be allotted for the distribution of a children’s book written by the Vice President, Isang Kaibigan (A Friend).
Following five hours of questioning, the House of Representatives deferred deliberations on the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget. This is a rare move for a chamber that has often accorded parliamentary courtesy to the OVP.
It was also revealed during the budget hearing that the Commission on Audit (COA) disallowed P73 million worth of confidential funds in the 2022 budget of the OVP.
Duterte responded to questions on the confidential funds saying her office received the audit actions from COA. “We have submitted our responses and we assure the public of our full cooperation with the ongoing and unfinished audit,” she said.
The House appropriations committee will hold another round of deliberations for the OVP on September 10. – Rappler.com
