Dennis Gasgonia

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sero

Lyza Aquino

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Representative Leila de Lima on Thursday proposed a significant budget cut to the Office of the Vice President (OVP), citing what she described as Vice President Sara Duterte’s continued refusal to appear before Congress and explain her office’s use of public funds.</p><p>During the plenary deliberations for the proposed 2026 national budget, De Lima moved to reduce the OVP’s allocation from P889.24 million to P733.2 million, a P156 million or 17.5% cut. </p><p>The amendment was introduced during the individual amendments phase of the budget debates in the House of Representatives.</p><p>“Every peso in this budget is the people’s money. And when we demand accountability, we do so not out of hostility, but out of duty. Duty to the Constitution, duty to the people, and duty to the truth,” said De Lima as she began her speech. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/29/vp-sara-duterte-shows-up-at-senate-budget-hearing-1038"><strong>Senate panel OKs OVP&#x27;s proposed 2026 budget</strong></a></div><p>The lawmaker did not mince words in criticizing Vice President Duterte for failing to personally face Congress to defend her office’s budget and answer questions regarding controversial projects.</p><p>“Let me then again put this on record. VP Sara Duterte’s repeated refusal to face this chamber is an insult. It spits on the duty of accountability. While she claims to millions in public funds, she refuses to explain. This is arrogance,” De Lima said.</p><p>She then delivered one of the speech’s most biting lines, likening the Vice President to a disrespectful child.</p><p>“Para tayong mga magulang na tinatabig at sinisigawan ng anak na tumatangging magpaliwanag kung saan napunta ang baon...Bawasan ang baon hanggang matuto.&quot; </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/16/sara-duterte-shows-up-at-house-budget-briefing-0933"><strong>Sara Duterte shows up at House budget briefing, clashes with minority solons</strong></a></div><p>De Lima stressed that her proposal was not a form of retaliation but a principled stand against what she sees as Duterte’s disregard for the legislative process.</p><p>“This reduction is discipline, not demolition,” she clarified, contrasting her move with what she called the weaponization of the budget during the Duterte administration, particularly the slashing of funds for the Commission on Human Rights. </p><p>“Malayo ito sa ginawa ng kanyang ama na ginamit ang budget para pahirapan ang Commission on Human Rights… We call out entitlement. We confront arrogance. We demand respect.”</p><p>De Lima also alluded to alleged fictitious projects, noting that public funds should not be misused or misrepresented. </p><p>The House of Representatives approved the proposed amendment.</p><div> </div><div><br/></div><div>  </div>

<p>Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima moved to reduce the OVP’s allocation from P889.24 million to P733.2 million.</p>

Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima moved to reduce the OVP’s allocation from P889.24 million to P733.2 million.

House OKs budget cut for Office of the Vice President

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House OKs budget cut for Office of the Vice President

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 10, 2025 05:38 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

Leila De Lima

Vice President Sara Duterte

OVP Budget

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