Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 30) — An opposition lawmaker’s objection to the abrupt termination of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget briefing Wednesday was cut short after the microphone was turned off in the middle of her speech.
The House appropriations committee’s hearing on the OVP’s proposed ₱2.3 billion budget for 2024 lasted for barely 20 minutes. Vice President Sara Duterte was present but she wasn’t questioned by any lawmaker about the proposal.
In her brief opening remarks, Duterte said the OVP’s proposed budget for 2024 will allow her office to continue its programs and extend various services throughout the country.
After the OVP’s audio-visual presentation about its budget proposal ended, Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos moved to terminate the hearing as part of a long-standing tradition in the House and out of courtesy to Duterte.
His motion was seconded by other lawmakers present at the hearing except for the three-member Makabayan bloc.
The group’s objection prompted the presiding officer, Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, to call for a show of hands. Twenty-one lawmakers voted in favor of ending the hearing. Lawmakers who had a dissenting vote were not counted and were not given time to explain their objections.
Despite the suspension of proceedings, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro continued to speak until her microphone was turned off.
She was insisting on using her time for interpellation to seek an explanation from the OVP for its supposed spending of ₱125 million in confidential funds in 2022.
READ: Castro: OVP spent ₱125 million confidential funds in 19 days
In her statement on Aug. 25, Duterte said Castro’s allegations will be answered during the budget hearing.
\”All she did was wildly and masterfully arrange some allegations against me and the OVP, which will all be answered once the probe is done and during the budget hearing,\” the vice president earlier said.
She and her staff, however, started to leave after the lawmaker’s microphone was turned off.
An hour later, the House panel continued its budget briefing but for the Department of Education, which Duterte also heads.
Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel used his time for interpellation to share his manifestation that he condemned the earlier proceedings as it was \”not democracy at work.\”
\”I just want to put on record that as a youth representative, I am in a position to question a tradition that no longer works and serves as a barrier to a healthy discussion about allocation and use of public funds,\” he said, adding that the tradition stops lawmakers from doing their job.
\”I do not want Congress to be complicit to illegal fund use by agencies in the executive branch, so allow me to put on record also my point of order sa proceedings kanina [in the earlier proceedings],\” he said.
In a statement, Duterte urged the Makabayan bloc \”to end its rabid vilification of OVP over the 2022 CF (confidential funds) if it doesn’t have any substantive information to back up imputations of misuse.\”
She explained the OVP has already planned and identified events, activities, and projects to be covered by the confidential funds as early as August.
\”There was nothing irregular or unauthorized about its spending and the required liquidation and accomplishment reports have been submitted to the oversight agencies,\” the vice president defended.
\”These incessant malicious attacks betray the Makabayan bloc’s lack of respect for the Filipinos being served by OVP and their inability to appreciate OVP’s involvement in the fight against insurgency, terrorism, and social inequality,\” she added.
Here’s how it played out:
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Presidential son and Ilocos Norte Rep. Marcos moves for the termination of the budget briefing of the OVP in line with "the longstanding tradition of giving the OVP parliamentary courtesy." | @JeloMantaring pic.twitter.com/VmxdCopcAS
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) August 30, 2023
Manuel: I object.
Castro: We object.
Zamora calls for a show of hands on whether to approve the motion.
Zamora: We have 21 members of the Committee on Appropriations manifesting for the approval of the motion. The Chair declares for the motion to terminate the presentation of the budget approved.
Castro: Madam Chair, may we have a manifestation?
Zamora tells Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, senior committee vice chairperson: Madam Chair, we already have terminated the presentation and the—
Castro: Point of order, Madam Chair, may I explain my vote why I do not like the hearing of the Office of the Vice President to be terminated? I know we have the right as a Minority bloc, Madam Chair. So may we explain why we vote no?
Zamora: With all due respect, this representation would like to request the honorable Castro to just please submit the manifestation to the Committee on Appropriations.
Castro: I object…Hindi natin inaasahan ang ganitong proceedings. Meron tayong issue na dapat pakinggan at dapat masagot ng Office of the Vice President. Kailangang maipaliwanag ang ₱125 million. At sinabi naman sa statement ni Vice President Duterte na mag-e-explain. So I have the right to explain why I voted no. Kailangang malaman itong ₱125 million na not-confidential fund pero ginastos ng Office of the Vice President na kung saan [mic turned off]."
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As Rep. Castro explains why she objects to the termination of the budget briefing of the OVP, her microphone is turned off. Lawmakers and VP Duterte and her staff start to leave. | @JeloMantaring pic.twitter.com/lqKoJFEjR3
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) August 30, 2023
