MANILA — Mamamayang Liberal party-list’s Cong. Leila de Lima said the P156-million reduction in the 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) was Congress’ way of enforcing accountability — a “disciplinary action” against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio’s repeated refusal to appear before lawmakers to explain her office’s spending.
The House of Representatives approved the cut during plenary deliberations, trimming the OVP’s allocation from P889.24 million to P733.2 million.
“This reduction is discipline, not demolition,” de Lima declared. “We’re not punishing the Vice President; we’re teaching the value of transparency. Ang pera ng bayan ay hindi baon na basta ginagastos nang walang paliwanag.”
The former senator stressed that the decision was not personal but an assertion of Congress’ oversight powers, saying public funds come with a duty to be accountable.
“Every peso in this budget is the people’s money,” she said. “When we demand accountability, we do so not out of hostility, but out of duty — to the Constitution, to the people, and to the truth.”
De Lima likened the move to disciplining a child who refuses to explain how their allowance was spent.
“Para tayong mga magulang na tinatabig at sinisigawan ng anak na ayaw magpaliwanag kung saan napunta ang baon. Bawasan ang baon hanggang matuto,” she remarked.
According to de Lima, Duterte-Carpio’s absence from budget hearings signaled “arrogance and disregard for oversight.” She argued that no public official — regardless of position — should be above legislative scrutiny.
She also contrasted Congress’ action with what she described as the Duterte administration’s “weaponization of the budget,” saying this time, the measure was guided by accountability, not political vengeance.
“We call out entitlement. We confront arrogance. We demand respect,” de Lima said. “And if that takes a budget cut to remind public officials of their duty — then so be it.”/PN
