Several lawmakers expressed disappointment over Vice President Sara Duterte’s absence during the House deliberation on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed 2026 budget.
ML Party-list Representative Leila de Lima was the first to voice her dismay, calling the absence a sign of disrespect toward Congress and the Constitution.
De Lima announced plans to file a motion to reduce the OVP’s proposed budget, opting not to push for a zero allocation out of consideration for the office’s employees.
ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio condemned Duterte’s absence, describing it as a blatant insult not only to Congress but also to the Filipino people.
Caloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar R. Erice criticized the Vice President’s letter to the House as inappropriate, arguing that it should have focused solely on the budget.
Erice emphasized that members of the 20th Congress are committed to passing a transparent and well-crafted national budget for 2026.
In his speech, Davao 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab noted that the OVP’s budget had already been significantly reduced in 2024 and 2025.
Ungab’s remarks came in response to his colleagues’ plan to file a motion to further cut the OVP’s budget due to Duterte’s refusal to attend the deliberation.
He also questioned the continued release of unprogrammed appropriations to the OVP.
Kabataan Party-list Representative Renee Co later led a motion to formally terminate the budget deliberation for the OVP, which was immediately seconded by fellow lawmakers.
In a brief statement, Co confirmed that the Makabayan Bloc will file a motion to reduce the proposed 2026 budget of the OVP.