HOUSE leaders on Monday challenged Vice President Sara Duterte to prove she is not a “spoiled brat” by respecting the budget deliberation process and providing lawmakers, as representatives of the Filipino people, with the clear and direct answers the public deserves for transparency and accountability.
During last week’s House Committee on Appropriations hearing on the proposed ₱2.037-billion budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2025, Duterte repeatedly dodged questions from lawmakers, particularly regarding the ₱125 million in confidential funds spent in just 11 days in December 2022, and resorted to insulting some House members.
House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre stressed that the Vice President must prioritize transparency and accountability as a public official.
“Bakit ka nagpapaliwanag sa labas VP? Dito sa budget process ka magsalita sa ngalan ng transparency at accountability dahil pera ng taymbayan ang pinag-uusapan dito. Pumunta ka bukas (Tuesday) Vice President Duterte sa hearing. The budget hearings ensure that public funds are allocated responsibly and that agencies, including the OVP, justify their expenses,” Acidre explained, emphasizing that budget scrutiny is not an “attack” on the OVP but part of due process to safeguard taxpayer money.
“If she claims not to be a ‘spoiled brat,’ she must prove it by respecting the process and providing the answers we need to evaluate her office’s budget,” he added.
Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria “Pammy” Zamora reiterated that budget deliberations are not about “getting what we want” or “hearing what we want to hear” but about ensuring public funds are used properly.
“It is our duty to ask tough questions, and it’s her duty as an elected official to respond thoroughly and with clarity,” Zamora said. “Dismissing our queries as ‘patutsada’ undermines the process and the institution we are all part of. We ask for professionalism.”
Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol partylist urged the Vice President to stop framing the hearing as a personal attack and instead recognize it as part of her responsibility as the country’s second-highest official.
“The refusal to answer questions about the confidential funds only raises more concerns,” Bongalon noted. “If she believes she has done no wrong, she should welcome the chance to explain her office’s actions. Public service requires transparency and humility, especially in handling public funds.”
The House Committee on Appropriations will resume deliberations on the OVP’s proposed ₱2.037-billion budget for 2025 on Tuesday, with lawmakers expected to press for further explanations regarding the confidential funds and other unresolved issues surrounding the OVP, as they continue to demand transparency from the Vice President. (
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