OVP budget deferred after Duterte evades questions at House hearing

MANILA, Philippines — Even after several hours, the deliberations on the Office of the Vice President (OVP) proposed 2025 budget was still deferred by the House of Representatives committee on appropriations as Vice President Sara Duterte evaded almost all questions raised by lawmakers.

At the tail end of the hearing that lasted over five hours on Tuesday, Zambales 1st District Rep. Jefferson Khonghun moved to defer deliberations of the OVP’s budget to September 10.

“We are a republic; we don’t have a king or a queen.  Now, Madam Chair, dahil hindi naman masagot ni VP Sara ‘yong mga katanungan ng miyembro, may I move now to defer the hearing of the budget of the Office of the Vice President.  I so move Madam Chair,” Khonghun said.

(We are a republic, we don’t have a king or a queen.  Now Madam Chair, because VP Sara cannot answer the House members’ questions, may I move now to defer the hearing of the budget of the Office of the Vice President.  I so move, Madam Chair.)

The motion was approved by appropriations senior vice chair and Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, who presided over the hearing, after it was duly seconded.

Prior to his motion, Khonghun said he was disappointed that the chance to explain the expenditures of the OVP — which he stressed are public funds — was not used.

Khonghun also thanked the vice president for showing her “true colors” — referring to Duterte’s alleged disrespect of House members.

“Nakakalungkot kasi nandito tayo lahat para tayo malinawan kung ano talaga ‘yong nangyari lalong-lalo na sa budget ng Vice President pagdating sa confidential funds, and ‘yong budget niya ngayong 2025.  Kaya lang hindi na rin ako magtatanong kasi alam ko paulit-ulit din ‘yong kanyang isasagot,” he said.

(It’s saddening because we are here to get clarification on how the funds, especially the confidential funds of the Vice President, were spent, including her budget for 2025.  I would no longer ask questions because I know that she will only repeat her answers,” he said.

“So nakaka-frustrate lang, dahil ito ay pera ng taumbayan (This is frustrating because this is taxpayers’ money).  I would like to thank the vice president for showing her true colors to the House, and her lack of respect for checks and balances and the separation of powers, and accountability,” he added.

During the discussions, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro likened Duterte to a squid who releases ink when under pressure — as the Vice President deflected questions related to her office’s use of confidential funds (CFs).

READ: Squid tactics? Castro scores VP Sara for deflecting secret fund issue 

Castro said this in response to Duterte answering nearly all the questions by saying that she forgoes the opportunity to defend the budget in a question-and-answer format, or by insisting that they have already coordinated with the Commission on Audit regarding the notice of disallowance.

But Castro believes this is a mere attempt to escape questions about budget utilization.

Duterte’s behavior sparked tensions during the hearing, as she had to be reminded several times to exercise decorum.

Quimbo called out the vice president several times, as she had spoken before she was recognized. At one point in the hearing, Duterte also asked the committee chair, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, to preside over the hearing instead of Quimbo.

READ: VP Duterte wants Quimbo replaced as OVP budget hearing presider

The OVP was not allocated any CF under the 2025 National Expenditures Program, as the Department of Budget and Management decided to adopt Congress’ policy of not giving secret funds to civilian agencies with no surveillance mandate.

But in 2023, the CF of the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) — an office previously under Duterte — 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