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Vice President Sara Duterte, June 25, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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PRIDE MONTH EVENT- VP Sara

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Thursday confirmed that it removed allocations for the publication and distribution of “Isang Kaibigan,” Vice President Sara Duterte’s book which drew controversy last year after the second-in-command pushed for a P10-million fund for the said reading material.</p><p>Under the OVP’s proposed 2026 budget, the “Isang Kaibigan” book will no longer be part of the agency’s P100-million “Pagbabago Campaign,” which seeks to distribute bags and other school supplies for some 200,000 learners across the country, said OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio.</p><p>“We took note of the comments and recommendations of the Congress during the budget deliberation of the OVP last year,” he said.</p><p>“For this year and the years moving forward, the Pagbabago bag will include the bag itself. It will contain school supplies and the dental kits, as initially proposed,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/21/look-hontiveros-receives-vp-duterte-s-children-s-book-isang-kaibigan-1337">LOOK: Hontiveros receives VP Duterte&#x27;s children&#x27;s book after Senate hearing clash</a></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sEeGkh0RyKQ" title="&#x27;I don&#x27;t appreciate the attitude&#x27;: Sara Duterte, Risa Hontiveros in heated exchange | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Last year, Duterte engaged in a heated exchange with Sen. Risa Hontiveros in the Senate and several House members after lawmakers questioned why taxpayers should spend P10 million for children’s books, which the Vice President authored.</p><p>Duterte, however, opted to not address Hontiveros’ question about the book, and instead called out the senator for alleged politicking.</p><p>&quot;This is an example of politicizing the budget hearing through the questions of a senator. Ang problema niya kasi nakalagay yung pangalan ko doon sa libro at yung libro na yan ibibigay namin sa mga bata at yung mga bata na yan may mga magulang na boboto. At yung pangalan ko nagkalat doon sa kung saan man ibibigay yung libro. Madam chair, we commit to send tomorrow...a copy of the book,&quot; Duterte said during Senate budget deliberations last year.</p><p>Hontiveros said she was at a loss as to why Duterte would bring up politicizing when she simply asked about details of the book distribution.</p><p>&quot;Hindi ko maintindihan yung ugali ng ating resource person. It is a simple question, paulit-ulit na this is politicizing... I don&#x27;t appreciate this kind of attitude,&quot; she said.</p><p>Duterte replied, &quot;Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang ugali ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros and I do not appreciate...this kind of behavior and attitude.&quot;</p><p>The OVP is scheduled to attend the House budget deliberations for its 2026 budget on September 12, but Duterte has yet to decide if she would personally come to the hearings, officials said.</p><p>“The OVP is currently preparing for the budget hearing for tomorrow and we are ready to answer any questions that will be asked of the team for tomorrow,” Ortonio said.</p><p>“So we are collecting all the necessary documentations for us to be able to properly defend the proposed budget,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/9/7/ovp-prepared-to-defend-budget-for-2026-cites-flagship-projects-and-audit-record-2225">OVP prepared to defend ₱902.8-M budget for 2026, cites flagship projects and audit record</a></div>

<p>The OVP confirmed that it removed allocations for the publication and distribution of “Isang Kaibigan,” Vice President Sara Duterte’s book which drew controversy last year after the second-in-command pushed for a P10-million fund for the said reading material.</p>

The OVP confirmed that it removed allocations for the publication and distribution of “Isang Kaibigan,” Vice President Sara Duterte’s book which drew controversy last year after the second-in-command pushed for a P10-million fund for the said reading material.

OVP removes allocation for Sara Duterte’s ‘Isang Kaibigan’ book in 2026 budget

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OVP removes allocation for Sara Duterte’s ‘Isang Kaibigan’ book in 2026 budget

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 11, 2025 12:22 PM PHT

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Isang Kaibigan

Sara Duterte

Office of the Vice President

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