Solon: VP Sara snubbed OVP budget defense at House after her demands not met

Vice President Sara Duterte and the staff of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) did not show up to the House of Representatives' plenary deliberations on its proposed P902-million budget for 2026 after the chamber did not give in to her demands, a lawmaker said.

Palawan Representative Jose “Pepito” Alvarez said the Vice President set conditions for her to show up to defend her office’s 2026 budget, including that the House demand the attendance of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. for the House plenary deliberations on the Office of the President (OP’s) proposed P27.3-billion budget for 2026.

She also said the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability must show her a document confirming that the Department of Justice has lifted the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) on the following OVP personnel:

• OVP Chief-of-Staff Zuleika T. Lopez
• Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio
• Director, Administrative and Financial Services Office Rosalynne Sanchez
• Director, Strategy Management Office Sunshine Charry Fajarda
• OVP Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta
• Chief Accountant Julieta Villadelrey 
• Special Disbursement Officer Edward Fajarda

These individuals were previously questioned by the House good government and public accountability panel over OVP’s disbursement of P625 million worth of confidential funds in 2022 and 2023.

“We have given the Office of the Vice President utmost respect in the procedures of this Congress  in order to deliberate on the budget of the OVP. [But] there’s no one from the OVP and I'm prepared to stand alone here and stand for the budget of the OVP,” Alvarez said.

“We will no longer respond to this letter, today being the last day [of House plenary deliberations],” he added.

As a result, no House member fielded questions. Instead, they called out the Vice President over what they described as appalling disrespect.

“This is very appalling. Who is she to disrespect our institution? Enough of her brattiness,” de Lima said.

“Now is not the time for conditions. What the people need is transparency and acceptable explanation. We deserve better,” Co added. — BM, GMA Integrated News