Vice President Sara Duterte said on Wednesday that she is prepared to continue her work even if the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is defunded, claiming that such actions are part of a coordinated political attack against her.
In a video message, Duterte acknowledged the possibility of the OVP’s budget being slashed. “Narinig din namin na mayroong defunding… Handa kami, handa ako, sa Office of the Vice President na magtrabaho kahit walang budget,” she said.
She added that the OVP’s operations are small and can manage even without a budget, indicating that she sees the defunding efforts as a part of a broader attack. “Alam naman namin na kaparte ‘yan ng pag-atake,” Duterte remarked.
Her comments come amid discussions among lawmakers about possibly reducing the OVP’s proposed budget for 2025. Some legislators suggested reallocating the funds to social services after Duterte skipped the OVP’s budget deliberations earlier in the week.
Duterte also urged the public not to be swayed by political noise, stressing that attacks on the Vice President are not uncommon in Philippine politics. She noted that such moves are often motivated by presidential ambitions. “Lahat ng mga gustong tumakbong presidente ay uunahin nila atakihin talaga ang Vice President,” she explained.
Additionally, Duterte questioned the national budget process, implying it has been manipulated, and urged the public to scrutinize the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgets carefully. She previously accused House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Zaldy Co of controlling and manipulating the budget for personal gain.