Duterte refuses to answer OVP budget questions, sparks House tension

MANILA, Philippines — Tensions at the House of Representatives committee on appropriations hearing on the Office of the Vice President (OVP) proposed 2025 budget flared after Vice President Sara Duterte refused to answer several questions, especially regarding confidential funds (CF).

After Duterte finished her opening speech during the panel’s hearing on Tuesday, appropriations senior vice chair and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo opened the floor for interpellations, starting with ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro.

But Duterte objected, saying that she would forgo the opportunity to defend OVP’s budget, leading Quimbo to remind Duterte that these discussions are important.

“I would like to forego the opportunity to defend the budget in a question-and-answer format.  I will leave it up to the House to decide on the budget submitted,” Duterte said.

“Madam Vice President, we have 17 members listed for interpellation and as you know, you’ve been here many times for our budget briefing, that this is an important part of the budget briefing.  The General Appropriations Act is arguably the most important piece of legislation every year, at kasama po ito ang pagtatanong at pakikinig sa sagot ninyo,” Quimbo replied.

“Madam Chair, my answer for every question will be I will forego the opportunity to defend the Office of the Vice President through a question-and-answer, and I will leave it to the House to decide on the budget submitted, so magsasayang tayo ng oras dito kung paulit-ulit ‘yong sagot,” Duterte fired back.

When Castro asked the vice president about OVP’s P125 million CF for 2022 which was reportedly used in just 11 days, Duterte questioned its relevance, noting that the focus should be on the 2025 National Expenditures Program (NEP) rather than past allocations.

Duterte also claimed that Castro made a “snide” comment, which she took as a signal to issue her own “snide” comment, discussing Castro’s recent conviction for child abuse in connection to their alleged rescue of Lumad children in Talaingod town, Davao del Norte.

“A total of P125 million, conducted surveillance in 132 areas in 11 days.  So 100 percent utilization.  Madam Chair, I have also here a report about the notice of disallowance.  According to the notice of disallowance, the COA (Commission on Audit) disallowed P73.28 million out of P125 million funds used by the OVP in 2022 […] so can you confirm?” Castro asked.

“Madam Chair, since you allowed her a snide comment, you will allow me a snide comment as well […] Madam Chair I do not understand bakit a person convicted of child abuse is still sitting in a seat in the House of Representatives,” Duterte said.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel meanwhile said that it seems Duterte is just keen on diverting issues by not answering directly.

“Point of order Madam Chair, ‘yan po ‘yong sinasabi natin na dina-divert ‘yong usapan sa ating budget hearing, kung nagawa po niya ‘yan sa Senado, dapat hindi po natin ‘yan pahintulutan sa Kamara,” Manuel said.

Notice of disallowance

The notice of disallowance was sent in by COA to the House, after a previous request for the commission to do an audit report on the CF of OVP and the Department of Education, an office formerly under the vice president.

READ: Panel to COA: Submit audit reports on OVP, DepEd, including secret funds

When Castro repeated her question about the notice of disallowance, Duterte asked for the rules of the committee, which Quimbo promised to provide.

Duterte contended that the topic of the hearing must stick only with the 2025 proposed budget and not previous fiscal years.

“Madam Chair, I still request for the rules of the budget hearings.  Gusto mong sagutin ko, Ma’am?  This is a hearing of the budget of 2025; nasaan dito ang confidential funds?  Naasaan dito?” Duterte said, raising her voice.

“This is part of my continuing questions pa natin no’ng 2024, during the last budget (deliberations), hindi naipaliwanag itong P125 million, na alam naman natin na wala ito sa budget ng 2022, so ito, sa rule naman natin, lahat dito tinatanong eh,” Castro said.

The OVP is not getting any CF for 2025, as the Department of Budget and Management decided to adopt Congress’ policy where civilian agencies with no surveillance mandate are no longer given CF allocations.

In 2023, the CF of the OVP and DepEd went through scrutiny after it was revealed that the OVP had a P125 million CF for 2022 even if the original budget did not have these items.

As a result, the House removed the P500 million CF request of the OVP and realigned it to agencies securing the West Philippine Sea.  Meanwhile, the P150 million CF request of the DepEd was converted into an item under maintenance and other operating expenses.

READ: How House removed, reduced the confidential funds of gov’t agencies