VP Duterte: Call out government if OVP projects downsized due to budget cut

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

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday bared she plans to downsize some of her office's projects in case of a slashed budget of P733 million as the House of Representatives continues to probe her past use of confidential funds.

READ: House panel grants furlough to 4 OVP-linked individuals tagged in confidential funds

When asked about the Office of the Vice President (OVP)'s future assistance to residents of Zamboanga Peninsula in her press briefing, Duterte said it will depend on the budget that the office will get in the 2025 General Appropriations Act — versions of which have been approved at the House and Senate.

But, she emphasized, she is not hoping for much.

"We are really not hopeful anymore kasi nakikita n'yo naman kung gaano ka-intense 'yung gusto nilang pilayan ang Office of the Vice President. Kung mayroon pang budget and then 'yung ano man 'yung mabigay na budget, mapagkasya namin 'yung projects namin doon," she said.

(We are really not hopeful anymore because you can all see how intense their efforts are to hamper the Office of the Vice President's operations. Whatever the budget that would be given, we will stretch to fund our projects .)

READ: Lawmakers see 'highly irregular' practices in OVP, DepEd confidential funds under Sara Duterte

The Senate did not increase the proposed OVP budget, saying Duterte did not ask for additional funding, so there was no basis to do so.

DOWNSIZING POSSIBLE

Duterte said the OVP may resort to downsizing their projects if the budget cut will continue.

She recently called on the Senate to restore her agency's original budget because she worries that some of their satellite offices might close and there may also be around 200 jobs that might be lost.

Duterte then encouraged Filipinos to call out the government if the budget cut will affect OVP's work.

"Dapat kayong magreklamo taong bayan kasi nagsu-suweldo kayo ng mga tao tulad ko. May I just remind you I have the second highest salary in the government — and yet wala ako gagawin kasi wala kaming projects," she stressed.

(You should complain because you are paying people like me. May I just remind you I have the second highest salary in the government — and yet I won't do anything because we don't have projects.)

READ: Senate OKs 2025 budget on final reading; OVP budget, AKAP up to bicam

The proposed 2025 budget for the OVP is slightly higher than office's 2022 budget under then Vice President Leni Robredo, but is lower than the P1.8 billion in the 2024 budget and the P2.3 billion allocated to the agency in 2023.

'POINT OF NO RETURN'

Amid the rift between her family and the administration, Duterte said she sees no possibility of patching things up with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

READ: VP Duterte warns ‘playbook’ of Anti-Terror Law, AMLA might be used against her

"I believe we reached the point of no return. It is clear. Parang they are really going after me at gusto talaga nila akong tanggalin sa position. Totoo talaga 'yung sinasabi ko na threats," she noted.

(I believe we reached the point of no return. It is clear. It seems they are really going after me and they definitely want to remove my position. The threats I've been mentioning were true.)

She said even before her supposed kill plot against Marcos earned concerns among government agencies, she already documented all the threats against her, her family, and the OVP.

READ: Sara Duterte says gov't ignoring 'threats' to her life

Duterte also once again mentioned House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying the problem stems from his interest in a higher position.

"Gusto kasi mag-vice president ni Martin Romualdez. Hindi niya alam ayaw ng mga congressman at mga senador na mag-vice president si Martin Romualdez," she stressed.

(Because Martin Romualdez wants to be a vice president. He doesn't know the congressmen and the senators are against Martin Romualdez being the vice president.)

Duterte recently shared that Marcos allegedly cannot "control" his cousin Romualdez, whom she claimed aspires to be the president as well.

THREATS OF IMPEACHMENT

Duterte said her critics at the House of Representatives can "always try" to file an impeachment complaint against her but claimed any such attempt would just be a move to distract the public from poor governance.

"They can always try na mag-impeachment. They can always try na gumastos at magwaldas ng pera ng gobyerno na mag-impeach ng vice president. Pagtakpan nang pagtakpan ang kakulangan at pagsisinungaling ng administrasyon para lang 'di mapansin ng mga tao na maraming mga pangako ang napako," she stressed.

(They can always try to impeach me. They can always spend the government's money to impeach a vice president. They can hide the administration's shortcomings and lies so people won't notice their failed promises.)

Former Sen.  Leila De Lima said over the weekend that Duterte's recent tirades can lead to an impeachment complaint and disbarment case against her.

Lawyer Michael Yusingco, an independent policy analyst and constitutionalist, said government should instead investigate and file administrative and criminal charges "to make the vice president accountable to her sins".