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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pimentel warns: Sara's behavior may affect OVP's proposed 2025 budget

Pimentel warns: Sara's behavior may affect OVP's proposed 2025 budget

Published Nov 25, 2024 06:23 am

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III said Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent behavior could affect her agency's budget.

Pimentel was referring to the vice president's recent outburst against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., his wife and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Senate is currently deliberating on the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB). Currently, the 2025 GAB is under the period of amendments in the Upper Chamber.

"This latest development can affect the budget of the OVP. We may decide that with her behavior, she and her office do not deserve more budget. We may decide that with her behavior, she and her office do not deserve more budget,” Pimentel said.

Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros has already manifested that there's no longer a need to alter the P733-million budget of the OVP.

Hontiveros added she's not keen on making changes in what's included in the House version regarding the proposed funding for the OVP program, which seems to repeat existing programs from other departments.

Who will carry out the assassination?

At the same time, Pimentel express puzzlement over the vice president’s outburst, wondering who she is referring to and who will carry out the assassination against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and the House Speaker once she is assassinated.

Duterte disclosed a supposed death threat against her through an expletive-laden rant during a midnight press conference on Saturday, November 23.

This was after her chief of staff, lawyer Zuleika Lopez, who was cited in contempt by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, was ordered transferred to the Women’s Correctional Facility in Mandaluyong City.

“’Wag kang mag-alala sa security ko kasi may kinausap na ako na tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya na kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM (Bongbong Marcos), si Liza Araneta at si Martin Romualdez (Don't worry ma'am about my security because I've already talked to someone. I told him that if I get assassinated, kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez),” Duterte had said.

Lopez had been under House custody since late Wednesday night November 20, after she was cited for contempt during a hearing by the House good government panel.

But Vice President Duterte intervened and prevented Lopez's transfer.

Pimentel said that threats to the lives of high government officials and their family members should be thoroughly investigated especially by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“Also we need to get the identity of that person that VP talked to, who gave her that assurance that he can carry out the assassinations,” he added.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin has tapped the Presidential Security Command (PSC) to take immediate, proper action on Duterte's threat on the life of President Marcos and the First Lady, saying they are taking her remarks seriously.

Related Tags

House Speaker Martin Romualdez Office of the Vice President Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos Vice President Sara Duterte
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