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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'It's up to her': Palace respects VP Sara's decision to skip OVP budget deliberations

'It's up to her': Palace respects VP Sara's decision to skip OVP budget deliberations

Published Oct 4, 2025 06:27 am
Vice President Sara Duterte and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Manila Bulletin/RTVM)
Vice President Sara Duterte and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro (Manila Bulletin/RTVM)
Malacañang said it is up to Vice President Sara Duterte whether she will attend the plenary deliberations for the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) 2026 budget.
In an interview with One News, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace would not stand in the way of Duterte’s decision, but emphasized that responsibility for defending the OVP’s budget ultimately rests on her.
“Kung yun po yung gusto niyang gawin. Kung ayaw niyang pumunta sa plenary debate, nasa kanya po ‘yan (If that is what she wants to do. If she does not want to attend the plenary debate, that is her choice),” she said on Friday, Oct. 3.
“Kargo niya po ‘yan dahil ‘yan naman po ay Office of the Vice President at maraming umaasang mga tao diyan na kanyang mga tauhan. Kung ayaw niyang pong pumunta, nasa kanya po ‘yan (That is her responsibility because it is the Office of the Vice President, and many of her staff depend on her. If she does not want to go, that is on her),” she added.
On Thursday, the OVP again had no official present during plenary debates on the proposed P902.9-million budget. Palawan Second District Rep. Jose Alvarez, who is sponsoring the agency’s allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Bill, admitted he stood alone in defending the OVP’s funding.
Alvarez presented three letters from Duterte, including one designating Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio to attend in her stead, and another naming him officer-in-charge during the leave of Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez.
The third letter outlined the Vice President’s demands before she would personally appear in plenary. One condition was that President Marcos must also attend to defend the Office of the President’s proposed P27.3-billion budget.
Alternatively, Duterte said she would participate if the House produced a Department of Justice (DOJ) document lifting an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) on seven OVP personnel, including Lopez, Ortonio, and other staff.
The OVP budget has already been deferred multiple times due to the absence of an undersecretary-level official, as required by House rules. Last month, the appropriations committee rescheduled its deliberations after Duterte sent Ortonio, the highest-ranking official available at the time.
Duterte eventually appeared before the committee on Sept. 16 to defend the budget after earlier sessions were postponed.

Related Tags

Claire Castro Vice President Sara Duterte Sara Duterte OVP OVP budget
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