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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Non-stop ang pambubudol': VP Duterte questions Marcos over P60-B PhilHealth fund return

'Non-stop ang pambubudol': VP Duterte questions Marcos over P60-B PhilHealth fund return

Published Sep 21, 2025 09:12 am  |  Updated Sep 21, 2025 01:28 pm
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte (Malacañang, OVP Photos)
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte (Malacañang, OVP Photos)
Vice President Sara Duterte unleashed a fresh round of tirades against President Marcos, taking offense at his repeated “pambubudol (scamming)” of the Filipino people and questioning his return of P60 billion from the national coffers to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

The official criticized her former political ally in her speech before the Filipino community in Japan, where a “Pagtitipon ng Pagkakaisa Para Kay Tatay Digong” was held at the Sumida Riverside Hall in Sumida City, Tokyo on Saturday, Sept. 20.

“Paano ka nagkaroon ng savings na wala ka pang declaration ng savings? Nagkulang ka nga, deficit ka nga. Paano ka nagkaroon ng savings (How did you manage to have savings when you have no declaration of savings? You’re short in funds, you’re in deficit. So how did you have savings)?,” she asked.

The President announced the return of P60 billion from the national coffers to PhilHealth due to savings from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The DPWH resubmitted a leaner 2026 proposed budget of P625 billion—removing some P255 billion from the original proposal of over P881 billion—amid the investigations into the anomalous flood control projects.

“Non-stop ang pambubudol at sobrang kapal ng mukha na parang hindi na nahihiya na binubudol yung mga Pilipino (He’s been scamming us non-stop and he’s really thick-faced and has no qualms about scamming the Filipinos),” she said.

Duterte also scoffed at the cancellation of Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co’s travel authority by the leadership of the House of Representatives.

“Nagawa nila na kidnappin si dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Hindi nila magawang kunin at kidnapin si Zaldy Co pabalik ng Pilipinas (They kidnapped former president Rodrigo Duterte. But they cannot extradite and kidnap Zaldy Co back to the Philippines),” she pointed out.

“Ano lang nagawa nila? I-cancel ang travel authority. Hanggang doon lang. Tama ba yun? Bilyon-bilyon ang kailangan ko sagutin tapos ang gagawin mo lang, i-cancel ang travel authority (What did they do? Cancel the travel authority. That’s it. Is that right? He needs to answer for billions but all you can do is cancel his travel authority)?,” she asked.

The Vice President added that Co can simply resign from the House and stay in the United States, where he is supposedly seeking treatments for a medical condition.

Co and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin, were implicated in the anomalous flood control projects. Romualdez stepped down as speaker of the House.

Related Tags

VP Sara Duterte President Marcos PhilHealth Zaldy Co budget savings
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