The fiery deliberations at the Office of Vice-president (OVP) congressional budget hearings pitted Sara Duterte-Carpio against members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Keeping a defiant mode all the way, the Vice-president said the budget deliberations were being “politicized” at the Upper House.
At a separate appearance in the Lower House, she refused to directly respond to probing questions by the representatives.
“I will forgo the opportunity to defend the Office of the Vice-President 2025 Budget Proposal by question and answer, and I will leave it to the House of Representatives to decide on the proposal as presented,” said Duterte-Carpio in her uniformed answer to House budget committee members, leaving most lawmakers disappointed if not disgusted.
The Vice-president accused the mostly pro-administration lawmakers of setting her up for impeachment. She hinted the supporters of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in the legislature could be gathering evidence for a “planned impeachment case” that may be filed soon.
The OVP is seeking congressional approval for its proposed PHP2.037 billion budget for 2025.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Jr. said because of the Vice-president’s demeanor — which he branded as “arrogant” — House members may call for the outright rejection of the OVP budget.
At the Senate, opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros pointed out that a huge chunk of the proposed OVP budget for 2025 is intended for giveaways such as food bags, livelihood subsidies, free bus rides, medical expense help and burial assistance.
A known critic of the Vice-president and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, Hontiveros said the OVP was duplicating the work of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSWD).
Hontiveros also made an issue out of the PHP10 million budget being sought by the OVP for the printing of the children’s book “Isang Kaibigan” authored by Duterte-Carpio. But Duterte-Carpio said Hontiveros was against the book because the Vice- president’s name and photograph were printed on the book.
Meanwhile, House opposition stalwart Rep. France Castro vowed to block the approval for the OVP’s social aid fund for 2025.
“Given the previous misuse of confidential funds, we must ensure that public funds are allocated and utilized properly,” said Castro who was referring to the controversial 2022 spending of confidential funds by the OVP. “Hindi natin pwedeng payagan na maglaan ng hiwalay na budget para sa social services sa isang opisina na may kaduda-dudang track record. (We cannot allow the allocation of a separate budget for social services that will be placed in the hands of an office with questionable track record.)”
Castro was referring to the OVP spending of PHP125 million in confidential funds for the period December 21 to December 31, 2022, or a span of just 11 days.
Senate opposition leader Aquilino Pimentel, Jr. for his part called on both houses of Congress to remove the budget allocation for projects that are not under the Vice- president’s mandate. After all, he said, Duterte-Carpio already said that she will leave it to Congress to decide on the OVP’s budget proposal.
Pimentel advised Duterte-Carpio to instead focus on her main duty as vice-president which, according to the Constitution, is to be ready to assume the presidency in case of death, disability, or resignation of the incumbent president.
“Hindi na niya role na magbigay ng mga school bags. Hindi na niya role na magpatakbo ng mga bus. (It’s not her role to provide school bags or to operate free bus rides. It’s a waste of her time.),” Pimentel said in a radio interview.
Pimentel stressed the Vice-president should only study and attend briefings so that she is ready to become president anytime. “That’s all we need to allocate a budget on,” he also said.
