ASSISTANT Minority Leader and Camarines Sur Representative Gabriel Bordado Jr. blasted Vice President Sara Duterte’s recent outburst against the government, where she alleged that her family was being bullied by the Marcos administration.
In a statement, Rep. Bordado compared the current Vice President’s approach to that of former Vice President Leni Robredo, highlighting a stark contrast in their handling of challenges and the use of public resources.
“Vice President Duterte’s pronouncements against the present administration are both alarming and puzzling. It is unfortunate that instead of quietly working through challenges as her predecessor did, she has chosen to publicly criticize and accuse the government of bullying her family. Former Vice President Leni Robredo, despite facing significant budgetary constraints, continued to work quietly and effectively. She never demanded excessive security nor made a spectacle of her struggles,” Bordado, who is a close ally of Robredo, said.
Bordado also pointed out that despite the perceived adversity, Congress approved a P2.4 billion budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) this year.
However, the Vice President’s apparent focus on personal security has raised questions about the true priorities of her office. The Commission on Audit (COA), in its 2022 assessment, reported that Duterte’s security detail had ballooned to 433 personnel—a staggering 455-percent increase from the 78 security escorts assigned to former Vice President Robredo. This increase means that 63 percent, or six out of ten of Duterte’s OVP staff, are security escorts.
“One must wonder,” Bordado continued, “with more bodyguards than working personnel, how much real work could possibly be done? What is Duterte so afraid of that requires such an exorbitant number of security escorts?”
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) placed the cost of Duterte’s security detail at P25.308 million in 2023. The military and uniformed personnel reportedly receive around P50,000 each per month.
Bordado emphasized the need for the government to reassess its priorities, stating, “More than the humongous amount poured into one office that might have found better use in other areas—sports development, to hear the latest clamor—is the question of priority and proportion. The public deserves to know why such a large portion of the OVP’s resources is dedicated to security, rather than to initiatives that benefit the broader Filipino population.”
Bordado urged the Vice President to be more transparent and accountable in her use of public funds, especially in light of the significant budget allocated to her office.
“The people have a right to demand accountability from their leaders. It is imperative that public funds are used wisely and justly, with the true needs of the nation at the forefront,” he concluded.
