CONGRESSMEN on Tuesday approved the Office of the Vice-President’s (OVP) proposed P902-million budget for next year with minimal opposition, a stark contrast to last year’s contentious deliberations amid budget use concerns.
The House of Representatives appropriations committee extended its so-called parliamentary courtesy to Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, giving a pass to the country’s second highest official, who faced intense questioning over allegations of secret fund misuse last year.
Ms. Duterte appeared solo and opted to skip an opening statement, instead launching directly into a brisk presentation of the OVP’s proposed 2026 budget.
She waived the traditional courtesy privilege exempting her from questioning, after which she was asked about her alleged secret fund misuse.
“This is the subject of an impeachment trial, and I would not like to discuss the defense for the impeachment trial,” Ms. Duterte told lawmakers.
Last year’s congressional discussions into the OVP’s proposed budget drew heated exchanges over Ms. Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, prompting scrutiny from minority lawmakers and civil groups.
She has been subjected to congressional probes into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of secret funds from her office in 2022 and the Department of Education in 2023, which has been used by lawmakers as indictment for her impeachment.
The House impeached Ms. Duterte, a likely contender in the 2028 presidential race, in February on charges of budget misuse, unexplained wealth, and allegedly conspiring to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., his wife and Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. She has denied all accusations.
The impeachment complaint against the Vice-President has since been archived by the Senate, which was constitutionally mandated to try the case.
Ms. Duterte said she still expects ouster efforts to continue despite the impeachment charges being shelved.
“Because if it doesn’t push through now, in 2025, I’m sure it will be revived in 2026, in 2027, or maybe even in 2028 right before the presidential elections,” she told reporters after her office’s budget hearing, which lasted an hour. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio