Office of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Slams Alleged “Twisted Story” over Absence at House Budget Hearing
SARA DUTERTE – The Office of the Vice President issued a clarification on their absence to the House of Representatives hearing of the OVP’s proposed budget for 2026.
The Senate and the House of Representatives are currently deliberating the budget proposals of the different offices and agencies under the government for next year. Recently, the House has scheduled a budget hearing over the proposed P902.8 million budget of the OVP for 2026.
Previously, ahead of the budget talks, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte claimed that she already sees budget cuts from the OVP’s proposed budget for 2026. The Vice President cited that the Chief Executive and the House Speaker are still the same people.
The Office of the Vice President previously claimed that they are ready to defend the 2026 proposed budget of the office. However, in recent reports, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and the OVP staff were reported to be no show at the House budget hearing. According to Palawan Representative Jose Alvarez, the vice chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, he advised the OVP to skip the hearing if Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez will not be attending.
“Knowing that and consistent with the tradition of the House that it’s either the head of agency or at the very least, an undersecretary who should defend the budget of the agency […] I advised them to refrain from attending if Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez is not present,” the Palawan Congressman said.
The reports about the absence of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and the OVP staff at the House budget hearing earned the Vice President and the OVP countless criticisms. Recently, Duterte’s office slammed the alleged “Twisted Story”.
Through a post on social media, the Office of the Vice President issued a statement claiming that “it was the House of Representatives that declined to accept the OVP delegation led by the Assistance Secretary”. It also stated that Vice Pres. Duterte offered to attend the inquiry instead of her Undersecretary.
In their clarification post, the Office of the Vice President also included an alleged screenshot of the conversation between a congressman and Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Here’s the supposed text conversation:
In previous reports, it was stated that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte reportedly agreed to attend the September 16 House budget hearing as per the Palawan Congressman. The Vice President has yet to speak on the matter.
According to the OVP, the requested P902.8 million budget of the office is enough for their programs. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s office did not request for confidential funds for 2026.