OVP can rely on courtesy in budget talks despite impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) can rely on courtesy and respect during the 2027 budget deliberations despite the ongoing impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong gave the assurance on Sunday in an interview over AM radio DZBB’s “Bantay Balita sa Kongreso” with Nimfa Ravelo and Isa Avendaño-Umali.

According to Alonto Adiong, who is also a vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, the chamber has consistently treated Duterte’s office with respect.

Citing Duterte’s absence from the 2026 plenary budget deliberations, he said: “The mere fact that we allowed her budget to be deliberated on the floor, even without her presence, is a manifestation of that courtesy that we have extended to her office.”

READ: House set to tackle proposed P7.2-trillion 2027 national budget next week

But he stressed that the vice president and her office should not be exempt from scrutiny of the agency’s proposed budget.

“Respect is there, but it does not also mean that she should be immune from questions; that we disallow or we preclude members of the appropriations committee from asking questions about certain matters pertaining to her budget,” Alonto Adiong said.

Appearing before Congress during budget deliberations, he added, is an agency’s responsibility when requesting public funds to be allocated to target projects and programs.

“When an agency is asking for its budget, you should face it because the members of the House of Representatives represent the people all over the country,” he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He added that failing to question agencies about their proposed budgets would itself amount to a “dereliction” of Congress’ oversight responsibilities.

“If none of us would ask questions about that budget, that is also a dereliction of our duty because we are being paid by taxpayers’ money to precisely ask these agencies where and how they implement these programs and projects that we approved,” Alonto Adiong said.

He recalled how he personally reached out to Duterte during the previous budget cycle to discuss the OVP’s proposed allocation but received no response.

“I was the first, one of the first sponsors of her budget. And I was ghosted,” he said.

READ: Lacson: ‘Questionable’ 2027 budget lump sums up for scrutiny

Despite this, he maintained that the House would still be willing to hear from the vice president and her office during the upcoming budget deliberations.

“What is important is that the House of Representatives expects and hopes that she would attend the coming budget deliberation,” he said.

The Department of Budget and Management transmitted the proposed P7.2-trillion National Expenditure Program for 2027 to Congress on Aug. 11. The House Committee on Appropriations is set to begin discussions on the proposal on Aug. 17.

The OVP’s budget deliberations will also take place as the Senate continues to hear the impeachment case against Duterte. /atm