In a video interview, Vice President Sara Duterte alleged that House Appropriations Chair Elizaldy Co and House Speaker Martin Romualdez are controlling the national budget. She cited this as one reason for the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) decision to forgo a question-and-answer session during its budget deliberation.
Duterte reiterated that they have already submitted the OVP budget to Congress and, along with it, left the decision on how the budget will be handled to the lawmakers
"Unang-una dahil nakikita namin na ginagamit siya ng ibang mga miyembro, iilan na mga miyembro ng Kongreso para umatake sa akin dahil hindi kami magkasam sa pulitika. Pangalawa, kasi ang budget ng Pilipinas ay hawak lang ng dalawang tao," said Duterte.
"Kaya yan ‘yung sinasabi ko. 'Oh, bakit pa tayo mag-question and answer dito, para atakihin niyo ako. ‘Eh ang masusunod lang naman sa budget, dalawang tao lang.' ‘Di ba?" she added.
Duterte recounted an incident in which the proposed confidential funds for both the OVP and the Department of Education were removed following the approval of the budget.
"Sunod-sunod 'yun, naglabas ng press release ang Makabayan [bloc], nagdefende kami ng budget namin, nagsalita si Zaldy Co, lumabas ang mga AOM ng COA," Duterte mentioned.
She further mentioned that, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the OVP and DepEd did not utilize the confidential funds.
She stated that, regardless of how appropriately these funds are used, they will be criticized. The agency will be attacked over the use of these confidential funds.
Duterte vehemently denied the claims of misuse of confidential funds in the budget allocated for DepEd.
She also rejected the claims of being a "bratinella," stating that she is accustomed to answering the questions directed at her.
"Sanay ako sumagot sa mga tanong ng mga bagay-bagay. Kaya nga ‘di ba nagbibigay ako ng mga interview kahit hindi siya arranged na interview, mga ambush interview ng media kung saan nakukuha nila mga katanungan ng taumbayan," said Duterte.
She suggested that some members of the House of Representatives are simply not used to not getting what they want or hearing the answers they expect.
"At hindi sanay ‘yung mga iilan na mga representatives natin na sinasagot sila sa kanilang mga patutsada," she added.
Duterte mentioned that she believes Congress has the right to scrutinize the national budget, as the Constitution grants Congress the so-called ‘power of the purse.’
"Kinikilala natin ‘yan. Kaya nga pumunta tayo doon sa Senate hearing. Pumunta tayo doon sa House of Representatives na hearing dahil nagpresenta tayo ng budget," said Duterte.
"Ang ginawa ko lang ay sinabi ko na i-forego namin ‘yung question and answer na parte ng budget hearing," she added.
As a result of these events, she also heard that there might be a defunding of the OVP or that the agency could receive only a nominal budget of one peso.
"Handa kami, handa ako sa office of the Vice President na magtrabaho kahit walang budget. Maliit lang ‘yung opisina naming, maliit lang ‘yung operations namin. Kaya kayang-kaya namin na magtrabaho kahit walang budget," Duterte firmly stated.
In closing, she urged Filipinos not to be swayed by political noise. She also encouraged citizens to review the budget details each year. Lastly, she called for unity and support for those in need.
