The House of Representatives did not consider the deliberations on the Office of the Vice President (OVP) ‘s 2025 budget after Vice President Sara Duterte and her representatives skipped the scheduled budget hearing in plenary.
The suspension came amid growing frustration from lawmakers over Duterte’s or her staff’s repeated defiance during key budget discussions and investigations to support legislation.
Deputy Majority Leader Marlyn Primicias Agabas brought the issue to the floor, presided over by Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. The former said that despite multiple efforts to communicate with the OVP, no staff members were present to help Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, the sponsor of the office’s proposed budget.
“We have disposed of all the items on the agenda today except for one, the budget of the office of the OVP, and we have just checked the holding room of the OVP in the House of Representatives premises, and there are no persons present,” Agabas said, explaining the need for the suspension.
The absence of any representatives from the OVP is particularly significant as the House is in the critical stages of deliberating its 2025 budget.
Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel expressed his frustration during the session, highlighting the Vice President’s continuous disregard for the House’s role in budget approval: “Mr. Speaker, we actually waited for 17 hours since 10 a.m. of September 23 up until approaching 3 a.m. now, September 24.”
The deliberations on the OVP budget have since been rescheduled for today, September 24.
