Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Attends House Inquiry on OVP Proposed Budget for 2026
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President asked an unexpected question during a budget hearing at the House of Representatives.
During the first House of Representatives hearing on the proposed budget of the Office of the Vice President for 2026, the OVP was advised to skip the hearing if neither Vice Pres. Duterte nor Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez will attend the inquiry. The OVP is asking for a P902.8 million budget for next year.
Amid the reports that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and the OVP staff were no show at the House hearing over the 2026 proposed budget, the Office of the Vice President clarified that they were advised not to appear at the inquiry and it was the House that declined their delegation.
Based on the screenshot posted by the Office of the Vice President, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte offered to attend the House budget hearing instead of the OVP Undersecretary. At the House hearing today, the Vice President alone and no OVP staff appeared at the inquiry with her.
Vice Pres. Duterte answered some questions over the proposed budget of the OVP for 2026. However, she declined to answer questions about her controversial confidential funds spending citing an impeachment case. There were also questions about her expenses during her overseas trips.
Unexpectedly, during a House hearing on the proposed budget of the OVP for 2026, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte raised an unexpected question when she was asked by Kabataan Representative Renee Co. The latter asked the Vice President how her office is funding for the flight and accommodations of the staff and security personnel of the OVP.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte then asked the chairperson of the Committee if she can ask a question — to which Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez answered that it would depend on the nature of the question.
“Magpinsan po ba si Congressman Co ngayon tsaka si Zaldy Co? Are they relatives?” the Vice President said.
Based on the post, Kabataan Rep. Renee Co said she has no familial relations with Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co or to any of his relatives. The Ako Bicol Partylist Representative is one of the accused in the anomalous flood control projects in the country.
The Discayas claimed that Co and House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly get 30% kickback from the flood control projects. House Speaker Martin Romualdez denied the allegation of the Discayas over the flood control issue.