OVP budget approved in plenary despite absence
The House of Representatives on a plenary vote approved the 2026 budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) even as its staff were notably absent from the session. The deliberations proceeded with the sponsor, Rep. Jose Alvarez, announcing that Vice President Sara Duterte had authorized the attendance of Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio to sit as officer-in-charge, since the OVP chief-of-staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, was on leave through Oct. 1, 2025. The proceedings turned at once to the broader questions surrounding the level of funding and the executive’s use of resources.
Attendance, authorization, and later demands
During the hearing, the committee read letters from Vice President Duterte. One communications stated that Ortonio would represent the OVP in the deliberations as acting head; a subsequent letter indicated the absence of Lopez and clarified that the acting leadership would operate in that capacity. In a surprising turn, Duterte issued a demand for the attendance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to personally defend the P27.3 billion budget of his office, a move that added tension to the session. She also asked the Committee on Good Government to produce documentation confirming the lifting of an immigration lookout bulletin against several named OVP personnel, including Lopez, Ortonio, Rosalynne Sanchez, Sunshine Fajarda, Gina Acosta, Julieta Villadelrey, and Edward Fajarda.
Context: Duterte’s Cebu relief mission
At the time of the plenary, Duterte was in Cebu overseeing relief efforts following a magnitude 6.9 earthquake in the Visayas. The presidential deputy noted the unexpected timing of the demand for the President’s attendance while security and relief operations were ongoing in the region, underscoring the tight schedule and competing priorities facing the executive and legislative branches.
Interpellations and criticisms
In a sharp exchange during interpellations, Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said she was appalled by the OVP’s move to skip the hearing. She called the decision a “disrespect of the Constitution” and referred to Duterte as a “brat,” arguing that it was improper for the vice president to avoid accountability before the House. De Lima pointed out that if Duterte could attend a Senate privilege speech, she should be able to spare time to defend her office’s budget before the House. Her stance drew support from members of the Makabayan Bloc, who joined in pressing for adjustments to the funding allocation.
Proposed budget reductions
In response to concerns about line-item spending, De Lima and the Makabayan Bloc urged a downward adjustment of the OVP’s allocation, arguing for a focus on essential operating needs. They pushed to trim the allocation by about P902.89 million, directing resources toward maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and salaries rather than broad program funding. Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice urged colleagues to maintain focus on delivering the people’s budget and to set aside personal disputes that could derail the legislative process.
What happens next
With the plenary’s approval, the OVP’s 2026 funding enters the post-approval phase, subject to normal oversight, potential amendments, and committee-level reviews. The episode highlighted ongoing frictions between some House members and the executive over budgetary transparency and accountability, even as the administration continues to respond to disaster relief needs in the Visayas and beyond.
