Vice President Sara Duterte was a no-show at Senate deliberation on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) proposed 2027 budget on Tuesday, October 20.
Senate President Win Gatchalian questioned OVP Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez about Duterte’s absence, noting that agency heads are generally expected to attend budget hearings to defend their respective funding proposals.
“May I know for the record kung nasaan ang ating butihing Vice President?” Gatchalian asked during the hearing.
Lopez explained that Duterte was in Davao City to represent her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, at the inurnment of a longtime Davao City planning official.
“The Vice President is actually representing former president Rodrigo Duterte in the inurnment of our long serving city planner in Davao City. The schedule for the inurnment is today, October 20,“ Lopez said.
“She is the representative of the former president,” she added.
Gatchalian acknowledged the explanation but expressed hope that the Vice President would attend the Senate plenary deliberations, where the OVP’s proposed budget would undergo further scrutiny.
The plenary deliberations will serve as the next opportunity for officials to defend their proposed allocations and respond to questions from lawmakers.
The OVP is seeking a P785.204-million budget for 2027, down 11.7% from its P889.236-million appropriated budget for 2026, reflecting a decrease of P104.032 million in its proposed funding for next year.
