MANILA -- Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Risa Hontiveros had a heated exchange during the Senate finance committee's hearing on the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) on Tuesday.

Asked by Hontiveros about details of the OVP's budget, including assistance programs that are "parallel" or similar to those of the labor and social welfare agencies, Duterte said that the reason for the proposed separate allocation is due to alleged politicized decision-making from the line agencies.

According to Duterte, her office has experienced instances where its referral of assistance to DSWD was rejected, allegedly because of political allegiances.

Hontiveros said she would make a motion to re-allocate the budget for the OVP's assistance programs to the relevant agencies, including DOLE.

The senator went on to ask about "Isang Kaibigan," a children's book authored by Duterte, and its proposed budget of P10 million to be distributed to learners. (See 8:50 mark in video.)

The vice president, however, opted to not address the question about the book, and instead likened Hontiveros' planned motion to re-allocate the OVP's assistance programs to her earlier mention of politicizing.

"This is an example of politicizing the budget hearing through the questions of a senator. Ang problema niya kasi nakalagay yung pangalan ko doon sa libro at yung libro na yan ibibigay namin sa mga bata at yung mga bata na yan may mga magulang na boboto. At yung pangalan ko nagkalat doon sa kung saan man ibibigay yung libro. Madam chair, we commit to send tomorrow...a copy of the book," Duterte said.

Hontiveros said she was at a loss as to why Duterte would bring up politicizing when she simply asked about details of the book distribution. 

"Hindi ko maintindihan yung ugali ng ating resource person. It is a simple question, paulit-ulit na this is politicizing... I don't appreciate this kind of attitude," she said. (See 14:00 mark in video.)

Duterte replied, "Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang ugali ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros and I do not appreciate...this kind of behavior and attitude."

Duterte then brought up Hontiveros' previous statements about her stance on China, as well as the senator's alleged past attempt to court Davao voters through the vice president's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte.

"Noong nanalo siya...siya ang pinakaunang umatake kay President Rodrigo Duterte. Anong tawag sa ugaling ganito?" Duterte said.

"This is public funds, and we're making inquiries. Budget hearing po ito, hindi po lahat about you, pera po ito ng taumbayan," the senator said.

Senate Finance panel chair Sen. Grace Poe intervened and asked resource persons to stick to the topic of the budget. (See 16:57 mark in video.)

"I understand the history among all of us here, but I think we should stick to the budget," Poe said.

Some programs of the Office of the Vice President were only implemented in 2023, noted OVP Director for Administrative and Financial Service Rosalynne Sanchez. 

The Mag Negosyo Ta 'Day, an OVP project to help women and LBGTQI+ community members, is being fine-tuned after some beneficiaries reported difficulty in complying with the requirements.   

OVP Chief of Staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez added that for the past 2 years, the OVP has had a 92-percent utilization rate of its budget. – With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News