Amid talks that the House of Representatives plans to give the Office of the Vice President (OVP) a lower budget for 2025, Vice President Sara Duterte assured that she and her office prepared to work even without government funding.
Vice President Sara Duterte (Photo from Inday Sara Duterte Facebook page)
In a videotaped interview, a transcript of which was released by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Wednesday, Sept. 11, the official admitted that she heard reports about the possible defunding of the OVP following her word war with some lawmakers.
She also did not attend the scheduled Sept. 10 budget deliberations for the OVP before the House Committee on Appropriations.
“Handa kami. Handa kami, handa ako, sa Office of the Vice President na magtrabaho kahit walang budget (We are ready. We are ready, I am ready, at the Office of the Vice President to work even without a budget),” she stressed.
“Maliit lang 'yung opisina namin. Maliit lang 'yung operations namin kaya kayang-kaya namin na magtrahabo kahit walang budget (Our office is just small. The operations are just small so we can work without a budget),” she added.
The possibility of defunding the OVP came after she was a no-show on Tuesday’s second hearing for her office's proposed P2.037-billion budget for 2025.
A letter addressed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, forwarded to House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako-Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co and signed by Duterte herself, the official said she was leaving it to the discretion of the committee to approve her budget or not.
She added that the OVP already submitted all necessary documents regarding its proposal, and that she herself faced the House panel in her opening remarks during the first budget hearing last Aug. 27.
Duterte said she understands that reports of defunding the OVP is part of the “attacks” against her, which she earlier claimed to be political in nature.
“Alam naman namin na kaparte 'yan ng pag-atake. Kaya kami, tutuloy-tuloy lang din kami sa kailangan namin gawin para sa bayan (We know that is part of the attacks. So we will just continue to do what the country needs).”