In an unprecedented move, Vice President Sara Duterte attempted to replace the presiding officer during a House panel’s deliberation on her office’s proposed budget for 2025. The incident occurred when Duterte requested Rep. Stella Quimbo, who was leading the House appropriations panel, to step down mid-hearing. Duterte wanted another lawmaker to preside over the session.
The tension escalated after Duterte, appearing frustrated, tried to stop Rep. France Castro from questioning the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential and intelligence expenses in 2022. Duterte argued that these expenses were unrelated to the proposed 2025 budget.
“I request that the chairperson of the finance committee preside over this hearing,” Duterte said, referring to the House appropriations committee led by Rep. Elizaldy Co.
However, Rep. Quimbo, serving as the senior vice chairperson of the panel, firmly rejected Duterte’s request, stating, “You are not allowed to do that, madam vice president. You are not allowed to introduce a motion. You are a resource person.” Duterte insisted she had only made a request, not a motion.
Quimbo maintained her stance, emphasizing the relevance of discussing the OVP’s past confidential funds. “The issue of confidential funds falls squarely within our discussion of the 2025 budget,” she noted.
The hearing continued with heightened tension, as Vice President Duterte and some lawmakers exchanged heated words, prompting Quimbo to repeatedly call for order. The situation intensified when Duterte criticized Quimbo for not allowing her to bypass the question-and-answer portion.
Former President and now Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo intervened in defense of Duterte, questioning the relevance of discussing previous years’ expenses. However, Quimbo clarified that the inquiry was necessary, given the substantial amount spent in 2022 and the need for transparency.
“It’s a big amount of money. I believe we owe it to the people to understand what happened,” Quimbo explained, stressing the importance of accountability and the lessons learned from the previous year’s budget deliberations.