VP Sara's cousin in House hits colleagues over OVP budget cut
Published Oct 11, 2025 11:54 am
At A Glance
- Vice President Sara Duterte's cousin in the House of Representatives, PPP Party-list Rep. Harold Duterte, has slammed his solon-colleagues for "bullying" the lady official on the matter of the 2026 national budget.
Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
Vice President Sara Duterte's cousin in the House of Representatives, PPP Party-list Rep. Harold Duterte, has slammed his solon-colleagues for "bullying" the lady official on the matter of the 2026 national budget.
"While disappointing, the action of the House of Representatives was already expected. This is not budgeting — this is bullying disguised as governance," Rep. Duterte said in a statement Saturday, Oct. 11.
During a rare plenary session Friday, the House approved a P156-million reduction to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) budget next year, which cut it down to P733.2 million. This is the OVP's budget level for 2025, the current fiscal year.
"The House may have slashed the budget of the [OVP], but they can never cut its will to serve. Every peso they withheld from the OVP only exposes how small-minded and politically vindictive some of our so-called lawmakers have become," Rep. Duterte said.
He went on to sarcastically congratulate his solon-colleagues for their actions.
"If the intention was to humiliate, then congratulations — they’ve only humiliated themselves. The OVP does not measure service in appropriations; it measures it in action, compassion, and results."
Rep. Duterte said that no amount of political theatrics or vindictive budgeting can stop the OVP from serving Filipinos.
"Where others weaponize the budget to settle scores, the Vice President continues to work — quietly, effectively, and without fanfare. The people are watching. And they can see clearly who works for them, and who works for themselves," he further said.
Both majority and minority solons approved the budget cut on the OVP.
Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who proposed the reduction, described it as akin to "disciplining a brat".
Rep. Duterte is part of the independent bloc. Another independent solon, Davao City 3rd district Rep. Isidro Ungab, objected to the OVP budget slash, but he was defeated in a subsequent plenary vote.
The proposed 2026 national budget was approved on second reading Friday, meaning it can no longer be changed by the House.