Tension filled the recent budget hearing for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the coming year after the event went viral due to the absence of Vice President Sara Duterte. The deliberation, which took place under the House Committee on Appropriations, was quickly overshadowed by controversy as Duterte failed to personally defend her office’s budget.
A dramatic scene unfolded when Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, a known ally of Duterte, suddenly stepped in to defend the Vice President. In his motion, Marcoleta cited the “long-honored tradition” in Congress to swiftly conclude the deliberation on the OVP budget. According to him, there was no need for further scrutiny of the OVP’s funds. However, his appeal did not gain the support of the majority of lawmakers. Despite his efforts, Marcoleta’s motion was defeated in a 3-45 vote, demonstrating strong opposition to the immediate approval of the OVP budget.
Lawmakers did not overlook previous statements made by Duterte, particularly her allegation that House Speaker Martin Romualdez and House Appropriations Chair Elizaldy Co were in control of the national budget. Co responded by calling Duterte’s claim “pambubudol,” or an act of deception. He labeled Duterte’s accusations as “misleading” and highlighted her alleged misuse of funds during her time as mayor of Davao City. Co added, “Kung nagagawa niya ito sa Davao na lustayin ang P2.9 bilyon, kayang-kaya niyang gawin ito kapag siya na ang nakaupo sa mas mataas na posisyon.”
Budget hearing ni sara nagka gulo!!
— 🇵🇭 Laitera🇵🇭 (@laiteranidaddy) September 10, 2024
Marcoleta at Paduano nagkakasagutan ! pic.twitter.com/z8BYCxMjyR
The incident quickly became a hot topic on social media, with videos of the tense deliberation spreading rapidly. Many netizens expressed their opinions, with some defending Duterte while others criticized her, arguing that she should be held accountable for the OVP’s budget. The viral event has sparked deeper discussions about transparency and accountability for government officials, especially those in high-ranking positions like the Office of the Vice President.