By Billy Begas
The House Committee on Appropriations terminated the deliberation on the proposed P2.385 billion budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2024 without allowing anyone to ask any questions.
The deliberation started at 9:29 a.m. and the members of the committee and guests were acknowledged.
Vice President Sara Duterte was allowed to give an opening speech at around 9:35 a.m. This was followed by an audio-visual presentation showcasing the OVP’s accomplishments and proposed budget.
The OVP has proposed a budget of P2.385 billion for 2024, which is slightly higher compared to its current budget of P2.356 billion.
After the presentation, Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, the lead sponsor of the OVP budget, recognized presidential son and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.
Instead of saying he is moving to end the budget deliberations, the President’s eldest son mistakenly declared that he was seeking to terminate the budget itself.
“In line with the long-standing tradition of giving the Office of the Vice President parliamentary courtesy, I move to terminate the budget of the Office of the Vice President,” Marcos said.
Objections were raised, promoting Zamora to call for a vote.
Twenty-one members favored the termination of the deliberation. Zamora declared the termination of the deliberation at 9:49 a.m.
House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro wanted to explain her opposition to the motion but Zamora told her to instead submit her explanation to the committee.
“Meron po tayong isyu na dapat na pakinggan ng taumbayan at masagot ng OVP. So Madam Chair, kailangang maipaliwanag itong P125 million at sinabi naman sa statement ni Vice President na mag-i-explain,” said Castro referring to the P125 million confidential fund spent by the OVP in the last 19 days of 2022.
