Former Senator Leila de Lima has criticized Vice President Sara Duterte’s conduct during a heated exchange with lawmakers at a House hearing over the proposed P2.037-billion budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2025. De Lima described Duterte’s demeanor as “extraordinary,” noting that such behavior is unprecedented in the history of Congress.
“The audacity of VP Sara in the House budget hearing is extraordinary, and has never been seen before in the entire history of Congress,” de Lima stated in a post on her social media platforms on Thursday, August 29, 2024.
De Lima suggested that if the Vice President refuses to defend her own budget, the House might consider reducing the OVP’s budget to a symbolic one peso or making substantial cuts. She emphasized that while the Vice President is an impeachable official, her office does not have fiscal autonomy.
De Lima further argued that the House could consider impeachment for “betrayal of public trust,” pointing out Duterte’s apparent disregard for constitutional provisions on public accountability and the budget process. She characterized these actions as potentially intentional, rather than mere ignorance of constitutional law.