Escudero on budget hearing: Sara Duterte 'not a friend' to some House members | ABS-CBN
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Escudero on budget hearing: Sara Duterte 'not a friend' to some House members
Escudero on budget hearing: Sara Duterte 'not a friend' to some House members
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte was not a friend to some lawmakers.
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte was not a friend to some lawmakers.
That was Senate President Francis Escudero's takeaway from Vice President Sara Duterte’s clash with House members during the briefing for the proposed 2025 budget for her office on Tuesday.
That was Senate President Francis Escudero's takeaway from Vice President Sara Duterte’s clash with House members during the briefing for the proposed 2025 budget for her office on Tuesday.
It was an apparent reference to Duterte's controversial children's book, "Isang Kaibigan", which some lawmakers want to defund in the 2025 budget.
It was an apparent reference to Duterte's controversial children's book, "Isang Kaibigan", which some lawmakers want to defund in the 2025 budget.
“[T]ila di sanay si Vice President Duterte na tinatanong siya at hindi siya sinasangayunan. Sa kabila naman, pinakita ng Kamara yung haba din naman ng kanilang pasensiya,” Escudero told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay on Wednesday morning.
“[T]ila di sanay si Vice President Duterte na tinatanong siya at hindi siya sinasangayunan. Sa kabila naman, pinakita ng Kamara yung haba din naman ng kanilang pasensiya,” Escudero told the Kapihan sa Manila Bay on Wednesday morning.
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(It seems Vice President Duterte is not used to being questioned and having people disagree with her. On the other hand, the House showed the limits of its patience)
(It seems Vice President Duterte is not used to being questioned and having people disagree with her. On the other hand, the House showed the limits of its patience)
“Maliwanag sa napanood ko kahapon na tila di ‘Isang Kaibigan’ si Vice President Sara sa ilang miyembro ng Kamara kahapon. Sana magbago yun sa susunod na pagdinig," he added.
“Maliwanag sa napanood ko kahapon na tila di ‘Isang Kaibigan’ si Vice President Sara sa ilang miyembro ng Kamara kahapon. Sana magbago yun sa susunod na pagdinig," he added.
(It was clear from what I watched yesterday, she seemed to not be friends with some House members yesterday. I hope that changes by the next hearing.)
(It was clear from what I watched yesterday, she seemed to not be friends with some House members yesterday. I hope that changes by the next hearing.)
Escudero said he hopes cooler heads will prevail in the next House Committee on Appropriations hearing on September 10.
Escudero said he hopes cooler heads will prevail in the next House Committee on Appropriations hearing on September 10.
Asked whether the Vice President could be cited in contempt for her behavior, Escudero said he hopes that it would not come to that.
Asked whether the Vice President could be cited in contempt for her behavior, Escudero said he hopes that it would not come to that.
"Dahil wala naman nareresolbahan ang bagay na ‘yan lalo na pagdating sa paglilinaw na hinihingi ng mga mambabatas kaugnay sa budget ng [Office of the Vice President],” he said.
"Dahil wala naman nareresolbahan ang bagay na ‘yan lalo na pagdating sa paglilinaw na hinihingi ng mga mambabatas kaugnay sa budget ng [Office of the Vice President],” he said.
(That will not resolve this issue and will not give House members clarity on the OVP budget)
(That will not resolve this issue and will not give House members clarity on the OVP budget)
CLASH AT THE SENATE
Duterte figured in a similarly testy exchange with Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros last week.
Duterte figured in a similarly testy exchange with Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros last week.
Unlike at the House, where deliberations on the OVP’s proposed budget were deferred to September 10, the Senate panel, which had many of Duterte’s allies in attendance, swiftly endorsed the budget for deliberations at the Senate plenary.
Unlike at the House, where deliberations on the OVP’s proposed budget were deferred to September 10, the Senate panel, which had many of Duterte’s allies in attendance, swiftly endorsed the budget for deliberations at the Senate plenary.
Escudero noted Duterte seemed friendlier to the Senate, “or the opposite is true, even the Vice President is friendlier to the Senate.”
Escudero noted Duterte seemed friendlier to the Senate, “or the opposite is true, even the Vice President is friendlier to the Senate.”
He said, however, that he does not want to judge either chamber since both have their own styles and roles in budget deliberations.
He said, however, that he does not want to judge either chamber since both have their own styles and roles in budget deliberations.
In a blog post, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson pointed out that, traditionally, the budgets of the OVP and the Office of the President "simply go through the formalities of a quorum call, acknowledgement of resource persons and budget presentations,” with Senate committee chairpersons later defending the proposed budget on the floor.
In a blog post, former Sen. Panfilo Lacson pointed out that, traditionally, the budgets of the OVP and the Office of the President "simply go through the formalities of a quorum call, acknowledgement of resource persons and budget presentations,” with Senate committee chairpersons later defending the proposed budget on the floor.
"The enmity between VP Sara Duterte and the designated sponsor, [Marikina Rep.] Stella Quimbo, makes the ensuing floor debates on the budget of the OVP an interesting watch,” he also said.
"The enmity between VP Sara Duterte and the designated sponsor, [Marikina Rep.] Stella Quimbo, makes the ensuing floor debates on the budget of the OVP an interesting watch,” he also said.
Quimbo had defended Duterte's proposal for confidential funds in budget deliberations in 2023, which earned her criticism and potential censure by the Liberal Party.
Quimbo had defended Duterte's proposal for confidential funds in budget deliberations in 2023, which earned her criticism and potential censure by the Liberal Party.
The House eventually decided to take money proposed for confidential and intelligence funds for agencies like the OVP and Department of Education and put it in agencies more focused on intelligence gathering and on national security.
The House eventually decided to take money proposed for confidential and intelligence funds for agencies like the OVP and Department of Education and put it in agencies more focused on intelligence gathering and on national security.
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