In just 15 minutes, the House appropriations panel approved the PHP 2.385-billion budget request of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for the year 2024.
Upon the motion of Presidential son and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, 21 members of the House panel voted to terminate the deliberations for the OVP's 2024 proposed budget.
"In line with the longstanding tradition of giving the Office of the Vice President parliamentary courtesy, I move to terminate the budget of Office of the Vice President," Marcos said.
Three Makabayan lawmakers, who attempted to object to Marcos' manifestation, were not given the chance to question any of its official, especially Education Secretary and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.
House Deputy Minority Leader France Castro then sought to explain her "no" vote for the termination of the hearing. However, Presiding chairman Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora said that the hearing has ended and requested for Castro to submit her manifestation in writing instead.
"With all due respect, this representation would like to request the Honorable Castro to just please submit the manifestation to the Committee on Appropriation," Zamora told Castro.
"Meron po tayong issue na dapat pakinggan ng ating taongbayan at masagot ng Office of the Vice President kaya talagang kailangan maipaliwanag itong P125 million. At sinabi naman sa statement ni Vice President Duterte na mag-eexplain," she said.
Fellow Makabayan bloc lawmaker Manuel likewise expressed dismay over the decision while Gabriela Women's Party Rep. Arlene Brosas urged Duterte to show "transparency" and "accountability" over the allegations.
