Leaders of the House of Representatives on Tuesday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for deliberately skipping the continuation of the Committee on Appropriations hearing on the proposed P2.037-billion budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2025.
House Assistant Majority Leaders Jil Bongalon (party-list Ako Bicol), Jay Khonghun (Zambales 1st District), and Francisco Paolo Ortega V (La Union 1st District) denounced the Vice President’s refusal to face Congress as a sign of weakness and a lack of accountability.
“It is disheartening to see the Vice President avoid the scrutiny that comes with public office. Her actions show a lack of respect not only for Congress but for every Filipino,” Bongalon said.
“If she cannot face the very institution responsible for overseeing government funds, how can she claim to serve the people effectively? This is not the behavior of a true leader, she is like a child who hides when scolded” he added in a mix of English and Filipino.
Khonghun likewise said the Vice President’s behavior is “unbecoming” of someone in her position.
“Her absence is not just an insult to Congress but to the Filipino people who deserve answers about how their money is being spent. This act of snubbing the budget deliberation reeks of a bratty attitude unbecoming of someone holding the second highest office in the land,” Khonghun said.
Lastly, Ortega said it is “alarming and unacceptable” that despite the serious issues facing her office, Duterte still did not attend the hearing.: “This is a clear lack of respect in the process of budget deliberations. This is not the behavior of a leader who cares about the people. If she has nothing to hide, why is she avoiding it?”
