OVP Budget Approved in Plenary Despite Staff Absence
The House of Representatives approved the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) 2026 budget in a plenary session even as its staff were not present for the hearing. The sponsor and House Appropriations Committee vice chairman, Rep. Jose Alvarez, received letters from Vice President Sara Duterte authorizing Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio to attend the deliberation as officer‑in‑charge. An accompanying OVP letter indicated that the OVP chief‑of‑staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, was on leave until Oct. 1, 2025.
The budget for the OVP stands at P902.89 million, covering maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and personnel costs. The plenary action occurred after the committee had deferred the budget for full plenary consideration, triggering a new round of correspondence and questions about staffing and oversight.
Duterte Letters and Attendance Demands
Following the initial deferment, Duterte sent a subsequent letter demanding the attendance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to defend the P27.3‑billion budget of his office. In another development, she asked the Committee on Good Government to produce a document confirming the lifting of an immigration lookout bulletin against Lopez, Ortonio, Rosalynne Sanchez, Sunshine Fajarda, Gina Acosta, Julieta Villadelrey, and Edward Fajarda. The communications underscored the political choreography surrounding the budget and oversight of the executive offices.
Duterte’s presence in Cebu at the time to monitor relief efforts for a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Visayas added another layer of complexity to deliberations.
Reaction in the House
During interpellations, Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima said she was “appalled” by the OVP’s move to skip the hearing, calling it a “disrespect of the Constitution” and labeling Duterte a “brat.” De Lima questioned why the vice president could attend Senate privilege speeches but could not spare time to defend the OVP budget, which drew sharp reactions from coalition allies and critics alike.
De Lima and the Makabayan Bloc pushed for reducing the OVP’s P902.89 million budget to fund only the maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and salaries, effectively trimming nonessential allocations. The push reflected broader debates about the proper size and function of the OVP in the budgeting cycle.
Budget Focus and House Leadership’s Stance
Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice urged fellow lawmakers to set aside personal disputes and focus on delivering the people’s budget. He urged the chamber to ignore Duterte’s letter and proceed with the budget’s passage, emphasizing the legislative obligation to fund government operations. Despite the public exchanges, the OVP budget was approved in plenary, signaling a prioritization of continuity in the executive offices while scrutiny over staffing and oversight continues in committee corridors.
