Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook)

Makabayan solon Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel blasted in House plenary on Wednesday night, Sept. 24. Vice President Sara Duterte's supposed claim that the agencies' defense of their proposed budget was "optional". 

"It has to be noted for the record na nagkakalat pa ang Office of the Vice President (OVP) ng panlilinlang sa Facebook page nito. Pinapalabas na optional ang pagdepensa sa proposed budget," Manuel said during plenary session during the second day pf waiting for Vice President Duterte to attend the budget debates. 

(The OVP has been spreading lies on its Facebook page. They're making it appear that it's optional to defend the proposed budget.) 

"Naghintay tayo kahapon (Monday) for 17 hours hanggang 3 a.m. kanina (Tuesday), nag-resume today, naghintay ulit tayo ngayon araw. 

(We waited yesterday for 17 hours and up to 3 a.m. earlier, it resumed today, we waited again today.) 

"Mr. Speaker, that's because for the OVP to appear and to answer budget-,related questions is not an option. It is an obligation Mr. Speaker," Manuel said. 

The militant solon had earlier branded Vice President Duterte's absence in the House plenary debates as a "clear betrayal of public trust". 

"Mr. Speaker, iniwan niya sa ere ang budget sponsor na magdedefend pa nga sana ng sa ngayon ay P733 million ba proposed budget ng OVP matapos kaltasan ng Committee on Appropriations," said they youth solon. 

(Mr. Speaker, she left hanging her budget sponsor who was supposed to defend the P733 million proposed budget of the OVP that was reduced by the Committee on Appropriations.) 

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"Iniwan niya sa ere ang Kamara at pinaghintay ng 17 oras. Iniwan niya sa ere ang taumbayan na nag-abang kahapon para sa plenary deliberations for the OVP budget," reiterated Manuel. 

(She left the House hanging and made us wait for 17 hours. She left hanging the people who waited yesterday for the plenary deliberations for the OVP budget.) 

Wednesday, Sept. 25, is the last day of sessions before the month-long congressional break. 

Before the P6.352-trillion 2025 national budget can be passed, the House members will decide during plenary session Wednesday whether or not to uphold the appropriations panel's recommendation to slash the OVP budget from P2.037 billion to P733 million.