OVP budget hearing descends into chaos as Sara Duterte, House members trade insults

MANILA, Philippines — House members across political lines on Tuesday refused to give in to Vice President Sara Duterte's request to not be asked questions about the Office of the Vice President's proposed budget, setting off a series of exchanges that led Duterte to call a lawmaker as "convicted" and for her to be likened to a "squid spewing black ink."

Tensions flared during the House appropriations committee's deliberations of the OVP's proposed P2.037-billion budget plan for 2025 after Duterte repeatedly asked to "forego the opportunity to defend the budget through question and answer" — a courtesy she enjoyed in her first two years in office before she publicly feuded with House leaders this year. 

"I would like to forego the opportunity to defend the budget in a question-and-answer format. I will leave it up to the House of Representatives to decide on the budget submitted," Duterte said.

Rep. Stella Quimbo (Marikina City), the presiding officer of the budget hearing, shot down Duterte's request and said 17 House lawmakers had earlier queued for interpellation. "This is an important part of the budget briefing... The General Appropriations Act is arguably the most important piece of legislation every year. Kasama ang pagtatanong at pakikinig sa sagot ninyo sa aming trabaho (It's part of our job to ask you and hear your responses)."

Duterte insisted on her request, saying that she would only keep repeating her refusal to answer questions. "Magsasayang lang tayo ng oras dito (We will waste time here)," she said.

Quimbo did not budge and allowed Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) to field questions related to the OVP's P125 million confidential and intelligence funds, which it spent in 11 days in December 2022.

It was Castro's comment about the OVP's slow utilization of its budget but Duterte's "quick" spending of confidential and intelligence funds that irked Duterte during the first few minutes of the interpellation. 

The vice president took exception with Castro's "snide comment" and asked Quimbo if she could also issue a "snide comment." Quimbo, also the House appropriations senior vice chairperson, reminded both Castro and Duterte to adhere to proper