Sara ‘beach outing’ fake news, says OVP

Vice President Sara Duterte —Photo from the House of Representatives

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte was not at the beach while the House of Representatives was holding plenary deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Monday.

“The Vice President was on the road today talking to the people about the current events in our country,” the OVP said in a statement on Monday night, hours after the House deferred the deliberations due to Duterte’s absence.

READ: OVP denies VP Sara on beach trip after missing House debates

“The OVP condemns fake news and media releases for clickbaits and profit,” it added.

Earlier, Duterte sent a letter to the OVP budget sponsor, Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong, saying she was leaving the budget deliberations in the plenary entirely in the hands of lawmakers.

Reporters also tried but failed to get a response from the OVP on whether Duterte would show up at the budget hearing.

This was after an online news report claimed she was on Calaguas Island in Camarines Norte during the weekend.

The OVP, however, called the report an attempt to “besmirch the reputation” of Duterte. —Dempsey Reyes