HOUSE “Young Guns” leaders on Monday rejected a proposal in the Senate aired by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian to augment the approved ₱733-million 2025 budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP), citing inconsistencies in its spending justifications and warning against “budol” tactics aimed at misleading and confusing the public.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said there are talks of additional funding for the Office of the Vice President (OVP), led by Vice President Sara Duterte, citing a high demand for public assistance.
However, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V of La Union and Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun of Zambales criticized the OVP’s inconsistent budgetary positions.
They pointed out that the OVP had previously deferred to Congress on its budget allocation but is now pushing for an increase, as articulated by Gatchalian.
“Parang paiba-iba ‘yung statement, before they (OVP) told the House na bahala na po ang House of Representatives saka Senate kumbaga doon sa hatol sa budget nila, pero ngayon parang nag-iiba ‘yung statement,” Ortega pointed out.
Ortega emphasized that regional offices of agencies, like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH), are already well-positioned to provide the assistance that the OVP claims additional funds would address.
“Naka-setup naman po ang mga regional agencies natin eh, so maiiwasan pa nga na may duplication [of functions],” he said.
He added: “Pero paiba-iba ang statement. Siguro sinusubukan nilang ibudol-budol ‘yung mga iba dyan para ma-confuse para, ewan ko, parang gusto nila na maawa sa kanila. Mahirap na rin kasing paniwalaan dahil ‘yun nga parang budol-budol statement na naman eh.”
The lawmaker representing La Union’s first district insisted that the OVP failed to adequately present its programs during House budget hearings, undermining its credibility.
“Nakita po natin na hindi maipaliwanag ang mga programa na nilatag nila dito sa House of Representatives,” he explained. “Noong nakita namin na hindi maipaliwanag, wala naman pong gustong magpaliwanag, wala naman pong kaukulan na, sabi nga nila, ‘ika nga resibo na makita. Ano naman ang gagamitin mong rason para ituloy ang budget na iyon kung underutilized siya o hindi man lang nagamit ng maayos?”
Khonghun echoed Ortega’s skepticism, calling for greater accountability before any additional funding is considered.
He pointed to the alleged lack of transparency surrounding the OVP’s use of its P500 million in confidential funds, which has been the subject of congressional investigations.
“Kailangan ng transparency and accountability sa lahat ng budget at pondo na ibinibigay ng ating pamahalaan,” Khonghun said.
“Nakita naman natin ngayon ‘yung pag-iwas ng Office of the Vice President, ni VP Sara, sa accountability at transparency kung paano nila ginagamit ‘yung pondo. So papaano pa natin sila pagkakatiwalaan?” he pointed out.
Khonghun also cited the ongoing controversy over alleged fictitious recipients in the OVP’s liquidation documents, including the now-infamous “Mary Grace Piattos.”
“Ayaw na natin magkaroon ng iba pang Mary Grace Piattos at Chippy McDonald (social media) sa mga liquidation report at mga acknowledgment receipt,” he said.
“Binibigyan na natin ng pagkakataon si VP Sara na makaiwas sa katiwalian at anomalya na kinakaharap niya ngayon,” he alleged.
The Senate had earlier adopted the House’s decision to cut the 2025 budget for the OVP by P1.3 billion, reducing it from the requested P2.03 billion to P733 million.
The Senate cited the lack of supporting documents from the OVP as a major reason for its move.
This alignment between the two chambers affirms the House’s rigorous approach to budget scrutiny and vindicates its decision to reallocate funds to the DSWD and DOH.
The bipartisan support for this budget reduction underscores frustration in both chambers over what lawmakers describe as a lack of transparency and cooperation from Vice President Duterte and her office
