Vice President Sara Duterte and Senator Risa Hontiveros engaged in a heated exchange over the children's book 'Isang Kaibigan', during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing on Tuesday.
The hearing focused on the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), amounting to P2.037 billion.
Hontiveros questioned Duterte about the OVP’s programs, such as medical and burial assistance and livelihood support, which seems to overlap with the functions of other government agencies.
The senator pointed out that these programs appeared similar to those already provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Duterte then said that the programs were mere requests from the public to her office. However, Hontiveros suggested reallocating the OVP’s budget to the relevant agencies that may handle the said programs.
Hontiveros urged that the OVP’s proposed program budgets be transferred to the relevant line agencies, allowing the OVP to request the necessary allocations from those agencies.
The senator then stated that she plans to propose a motion to reallocate the proposed budget.
During her inquiry, Hontiveros asked about "Isang Kaibigan," a book authored by the Vice President, seeking details about its content.
“Let me make a rebuttal, another example of politicizing the budget of the government. Ito pong sinabi ni Senator Risa Hontiveros na at the proper time she’ll make a motion to lodge the requested budget of the OVP to the other agencies," VP Duterte said.
The Vice President referenced an earlier remark from Hontiveros, in which she criticized both her and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing that as long as the Vice President holds power, there remains a risk of the Dutertes fully regaining control.
“Walang kinalaman sa kasasabi lang ng VP ngayon. Alam nating lahat na miyembro ng iba’t-ibang partido. 'Yung speeches natin sa ating mga ka-miyembro, sa party Congresses, ay hiwalay na event dito sa budget debates,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros continued to ask the Vice President about the book's contents.
“Ang tanong ko po ay ilang mga libro ng “Isang Kaibigan” ay bibilihin at ididistribute? If the VP could tell as more about the contents ng librong ito,” said Hontiveros.
Duterte replied that the book is not for sale and that the OVP only covered the publication costs. She added that their office would send Hontiveros a copy so she could learn about the book's content.
Hontiveros repeated her question after the Vice President still did not disclose the book's content, total cost, or distribution details.
“Madame Chair, this is an example of politicizing the budget hearing through the questions of a senator,” Duterte said.
Duterte claims that the senator is concerned about her name appearing as the author of the book because the parents of the children who will receive it are potential voters. She then vowed to give a copy to everyone in the room during the session.
“Hindi ko maintindihan ‘yung ugali ng ating resource person. It is a simple question, paulit-ulit na ‘this is politicizing’. Ang VP ang nagbanggit ng salitang ‘boboto’, wala akong sinabing ‘boboto’,” Hontiveros said.
Hontiveros stated that she was merely asking a question and saw no reason for the commotion over P10 million worth of books. She emphasized that her inquiries are simply about the book’s content and the total number of copies to be distributed.
"Usually ang resource persons natin ay nagbibigay ng parehong institutional courtesy sa legislature na ibinibigay natin sa executive. I don’t appreciate this kind of attitude," Hontiveros stated.
Duterte also expressed confusion over Hontiveros’ attitude, mentioning that Hontiveros sought her help in the 2022 elections by requesting assistance in securing several barangays in Davao.
To prevent the argument from escalating further, Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Committee on Finance, intervened.
Poe acknowledged the history between Hontiveros and Duterte but stressed the importance of focusing on the budget. She then requested Duterte to provide a summary of the book’s content.
“The explanation is in the title, ‘Isang Kaibigan’. It’s about friendship,” Duterte answered.
Hontiveros stated that Duterte should have answered the question directly instead of avoiding it with explanations unrelated to the matter at hand.
“Budget hearing po ito. Hindi po lahat about you. Pera po ito ng taumbayan," Hontiveros said.
Following the heated exchange between Duterte and Hontiveros, the OVP's budget was submitted to the plenary.
