Congress has firmly denied the allegation made by Vice President Sara Duterte that the budget deliberation for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in the House of Representatives was “scripted.”
In a recorded interview, Duterte stated that she chose not to attend the budget briefing of the House Committee on Appropriations because the outcome had allegedly been pre-determined, claiming that only two individuals had control over the national budget.
House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre clarified that the committee members held varying viewpoints, making it unlikely for the deliberation to have been scripted.
Acidre also criticized the Vice President’s interview, pointing out that it appeared scripted itself, as there was only one interviewer, one setup, and the interview was divided into three parts, coinciding with the budget briefing.
Additionally, Acidre emphasized that the alleged defunding of the OVP was baseless, as the House would follow the Constitution and ensure that the office’s mandate is carried out.
The budget will be made responsive to the OVP’s mandate, ensuring that sufficient resources remain available.
La Union Representative Paolo Ortega added that it was Vice President Duterte who seemed to have a script, as her responses during the initial budget hearing of the Appropriations panel were repetitive.