Lawmakers debate on termination of OVP budget hearings over Sara's no show

The Manila Times

Lawmakers debate on termination of OVP budget hearings over Sara's no show  Vice President Sara Duterte's absence from the budget hearing for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Sept. 10, 2024 causes a furor at the House of Representatives., Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, appropriations committee vice chairman and OVP Budget sponsor, said that Duterte's non-attendance was 'unfortunate' as the budget panel deferred approval pending the fulfillment of certain conditions such as reducing its allocation and putting some of its funds on hold. Rep. Elizaldy Co, appropriations committee head said that he would not allow any public funds to be squandered by the vice president like her confidential funds in 2022. Sagip Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta filed a motion for a parliamentary inquiry into the termination of the hearing before the appropriations committee although it was denied by a vote of 45-3.   Video by Red Mendoza  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net    Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes  #tmtnews  #confidentialfund  #marcoleta  #saraduterte

Transcript

00:00...sacred in our hearts because we are all honorables in this house.

00:05We cannot be honorables if we cannot honor our own tradition.

00:09We are defined by what we believe as a tradition in this house.

00:13So if we are now all amenable that we have kept the tradition,

00:17no longer questions are being asked,

00:20then I will respectfully move, Madam Chair,

00:23to move to terminate the budget of the OPP for 2025.

00:27That is why, kung hindi po kayo makakasagot, Madam,

00:30ang tinanong ko na sa inyo, I am now moving.

00:34Oh, e-pratinello pa?

00:38Sa po kayo nakakita ng ganoon? This need not happen any time.

00:43Pang-panglabing, pigtas taong ko na po ito.

00:46Alam nyo, Madam Stella, I was already here when the Vice President was Loli Picastro,

00:52when the Vice President was P9, when Vice President...

00:55But you were also here in the last hearing. No motion must be rejected.

00:59Paano member ngayon is chairman ang sinang tinatanong?

01:02Kung vira naman natin.

01:05Ang member na sasagot. The question is addressed to the chair.

01:09Why won't the members answer that?

01:11Eh, we don't have the...

01:15Eh, why is the chairman of this panel?

01:19Di ba kami kailangan yung salitaan?

01:21We are also members, just the same.

01:25Alam mo yun? Alam mo yun?

01:29So, I believe tomorrow will be the first plenary debate.

01:36So, part of the committee report is the budget of the Office of the Vice President as reflected under the budget.

01:44So, is it to say babawasan? Kasi yun yung sabi sa last motion na clarity.

01:50Pending the reduction. So, is it to say how to reduce?

01:56No, that's one of the recommendations but it's just merely a recommendation unless it is acted by majority, I mean members of the House.

02:07So, the final determination really is once the plenary approves the budget.

02:13But remember, there's still the BICAM. So, pupunta pa yan sa BICAM.

02:18So, sir, there's a chance na mararing yung budget ngayon?

02:21Anything is possible but there's also a chance that it can be retained depending on how the budget will be approved and what are the differences in the version.

02:34From the ones that we approve and the ones that will be approved.

02:40Last time you talked to the media, you were optimistic about yung magpwede magyari. Yung chances kayo?

02:47Being optimistic is a good attitude. Sometimes you don't get what you want. That's life.

02:54Pero, sir, magdi-reach out pa ulit kayo sa OPP?

02:57I'm still waiting for the Office of the Vice President to really reach out.

03:05Kung nagagawa niya po yan sa dabaw, sa confidential pad na lustayin in 11 days ng 2.6 or 2.9 billion, kaya niya rin yang gawin.

03:15Pag siya po ang nakaupo at ang kanyang mga pananakot sa aming mga kongresista, hindi na po ito dapat palagpasili.

03:24Pag nilitingo kami ng APRO, we will have more detail for this.

03:30Ano kung nakita kayo na medyo strained ang relationship between the House and the Vice President?

03:36And of course, parang isaswisin nyo kayo na parang pinanatangan nyo na po siyang korak, magnanakawin all.

03:42I mean, is this the official position po ba of the entire Appropriations Committee? Or is this your own interpretation sa inasal ni Vice President?

03:50Well, ano po yan, common knowledge na po yan. Matagal na po kahit sa dabaw, tahimik lang. Secret martial na po sa dabaw, alam po natin yan.

04:00So, yung mga sinasabi natin lumabas na po sa COA, ilang beses yan, Audit Observation Memo, Notice of Disallowance, bago ka po dumating sa Notice of Disallowance sa AOM pa lang po nakita po natin yan.

04:15Sinubukan po natin yan last year pang itiniman pero hindi po yan nakikita noong 2022. Malaki na po.

04:23Hindi pa po nagkakaganitang sitwasyon, hinihingi na po yan ng Kongreso dahil masyado na pong sobrang laki ang confidential fund na hinihingi niya. Not only that, at other services.

04:45.

Category

Transcript

Recommended