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Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

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VP Sara Duterte

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172725739191120240925-sara-duterte-presscon-JC-9840.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span>MANILA -- The Office of the Vice President&#x27;s weekend trip to Calaguas Island was part of an official visit to touch base with Filipinos in rural communities, Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday, days after her beach photos went viral on social media.</div><p>Duterte&#x27;s trip to the island destination drew controversy as several camps accused her of going on a leisure trip instead of attending the House plenary deliberations for the OVP&#x27;s 2025 budget.</p><p>&quot;I visited island barangays,&quot; Duterte said in a press conference.</p><p>Among the issues locals raised are linked to the lack of health services, including potable water in the island, she said.</p><p>Duterte has been silent on the issue for several days until the Philippine National Police confirmed her presence in Calaguas from September 20 to 23.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/9/25/pnp-region-5-confirms-sara-duterte-s-trip-to-calaguas-other-parts-of-bicol-1630">READ: PNP Region 5 confirms Sara Duterte&#x27;s trip to Calaguas, other parts of Bicol</a></div><p>&quot;Accurate yung report ng PNP… 6:32 [ng umaga], umalis ako sa Calaguas ng Monday,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;Ang budget hearing started 10 a.m. Tama din ako na walang budget hearing na nangyayari ng 6:32 a.m… Walang congressman na gising ng 6 a.m. para magtrabaho,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;By the time na naghearing sila, nandoon na kami sa Vinzon&#x27;s poblacion,&quot; she added.</p><p>Duterte earlier told House lawmakers that she would not attend budget deliberations as the Office of the Vice President is leaving the 2025 funding entirely up to the Congress&#x27; discretion.</p><p>Duterte had accused House members of using budget proceedings to launch political attacks against her, accusations which the House leadership has repeatedly denied.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/25/vp-duterte-skips-2nd-house-inquiry-into-deped-s-fund-use-calls-probe-unnecessary-1106">READ: VP Duterte skips second House inquiry into DepEd&#x27;s fund use, calls probe &#x27;unnecessary&#x27;</a></div><div><strong>REDUCING OVP BUDGET?</strong></div><p>Lawmakers on Wednesday called out Duterte for &quot;snubbing&quot; the House&#x27;s period of interpellation for the budget of the OVP, with ACT Teachers party list Rep. France Castro making a manifestation to propose a further reduction of the office&#x27;s budget.</p><p>Castro proposed reducing the OVP&#x27;s budget from P733-million to P529.5-million.</p><p>&quot;Hanggang ngayon, nag-aasal pusit pa rin ang bise presidente dahil ayaw niyang matanong, ayaw niyang busisiin ang kanyang budget,&quot; said Castro.</p><p>Camarines Sur Rep. Gabriel Bordado expressed &quot;deep concern&quot; regarding the current budgetary allocation and spending practices of the OVP and compared this to the &quot;very modest and transparent expenditures&quot; during the time of former Vice President Leni Robredo. </p><p>Meanwhile, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas said Duterte&#x27;s behavior during the budget hearings was &quot;not acceptable.&quot;</p><p>&quot;She needs to be accountable and transparent to the public on how she used the OVP&#x27;s budget. Hindi katanggap tanggap na binoycott tayo ng bise presidente sa pagpapatuloy ng pagdinig ng panukalang budget ng OVP. Kahit representative mula sa opisina niya ay walang nagpakita. Pambabastos ito sa taumbayan… Inaabandona na ba niya ang duty niya bilang Bise Presidente?&quot; she said.</p><p>Budget sponsor Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the proposal will be up for discussion by the plenary which can either approve or reject Castro&#x27;s proposal. -- <strong>with a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/24/vp-duterte-can-step-down-if-she-is-no-longer-interested-in-performing-her-duties-solon-1841">READ: VP Duterte can step down if she is no longer interested in performing her duties -- solon</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/25/-hindi-ako-aalis-dito-sara-duterte-rejects-resignation-calls-from-lawmakers-1543">READ: Sara Duterte rejects resignation calls from lawmakers</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:<span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OHZyulOf3zk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-iu6bhkyGbE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Duterte's trip to the island destination drew controversy as several camps accused her of going on a leisure trip instead of attending the House plenary deliberations for the OVP's 2025 budget.</p>

Duterte's trip to the island destination drew controversy as several camps accused her of going on a leisure trip instead of attending the House plenary deliberations for the OVP's 2025 budget.

Sara Duterte says trip to Calaguas an official visit

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Sara Duterte says trip to Calaguas an official visit

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 25, 2024 05:45 PM PHT

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Updated Sep 26, 2024 01:11 PM PHT

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