Senate President Francis Escudero asserted that Senator Risa Hontiveros has the right to raise questions regarding the budget of Vice President Sara Duterte’s office. His statement followed a tense exchange between Hontiveros and Duterte during the Senate subcommittee on finance hearing for the proposed P2.037-billion budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2025.
“Senator Risa has every right to ask the questions she posed to Vice President Sara, and it is only fitting that any agency head facing the Senate and Congress regarding their proposed budget should provide answers,” Escudero said during an ambush interview in Pasay City.
The Senate President expressed regret over the verbal clash between Hontiveros and Duterte, commending Senator Grace Poe for managing the situation appropriately.
The confrontation escalated when Duterte accused Hontiveros of “politicizing” the budget after the senator inquired about a P10-million proposal for distributing a children’s book authored by Duterte. Duterte also claimed that Hontiveros had sought her help during the senator’s 2016 campaign.
Poe intervened during the hearing, urging both Duterte and Hontiveros to focus on the budget discussion.
Escudero remarked that the dispute between Hontiveros and Duterte seemed personal, noting, “It’s personal for them. As for me, I don’t typically bring up favors from the past, but maybe for others, it’s okay.”