Duterte, Hontiveros trade barbs over children’s book

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Risa Hontiveros butted heads over a P10 million worth of item: a children’s book. 

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) has a budget proposal of P2.037 billion for 2025. During the budget hearing on OVP's proposed budget, the exchange between Hontiveros and Duterte began amicably. 

Hontiveros asked Duterte about the OVP’s programs that appeared to be similar to the functions of other government agencies. The OVP had programs such as medical and burial assistance, as well as livelihood support. 

The opposition senator said that Duterte’s programs were similar to existing programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Health and the Department of Labor and Employment. 

Duterte replied that these were merely programs requested by the public from her office. To which Hontiveros thanked the vice president and suggested for the budget  allocated for the OVP’s projects to be put into the line agencies that are aligned with these programs instead. 

However, things soured when Hontiveros said she will make a motion to lodge the OVP’s proposed program budgets into the line agencies. The OVP could then request the allocation from them.  

Before Duterte could reply to this, Hontiveros went on to ask about the “Pagbabago Campaign”. The campaign involves distributing bags to one million students, which contains a children’s book authored by the vice president called “Isang Kaibigan” or “A Friend”.

Hontiveros asked Duterte what the book was about. In response, the vice president said she would like to rebut what Hontiveros earlier said. 

“Another example of politicizing the budget of the government. Itong sinabi ni Senator Risa Hontiveros na at the proper time, she’ll make a motion to lodge the requested budget of the OVP to other agencies,” Duterte said. 

The vice president brought up an old statement from Hontiveros criticizing her and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte. Hontiveros previously said that while the vice president is in power, the threat of the Dutertes' return to full power remains. 

“Walang kinalaman sa kasasabi lang ng VP ngayon. Alam nating lahat na