VICE President Sara Duterte has taken exception to allegations of administration lawmakers that she is a “spoiled” brat, saying Malacañang’s allies at the House of Representatives are using deliberations on the Office of the Vice President’s proposed budget for 2025 to attack her after she broke away from her alliance with President Marcos Jr.
During deliberations last month on the OVP’s proposed P2.037-billion budget, tension flared when Duterte refused to answer questions about the notice of disallowance that the Commission on Audit has issued to the OVP for its use of confidential funds in 2022. She said it is up to the House to decide on her office’s budget proposal.
Deliberations on the OVP budget will resume today.
Duterte, in a recorded interview released yesterday by the OVP, said, “Hindi ako ‘bratinella’ o spoiled brat dahil kilala nila ako simula noong ako ay nasa Davao pa, simula ng ako ay mayor pa hanggang naging Vice President ako, kilala ako ng taongbayan na hindi ko inaabuso ang aking power and ang aking authority sa lahat ng mga opisina na nahawakan ko. Testigo ko ang buong bayan na hindi ako isang spoiled brat (I’m not a ‘bratinella’ or spoiled brat because they have known me since I was still in Davao, since I was mayor until I became vice president. The people know that I do not abuse my power and my authority in all the offices I’ve held. The whole country can testify that I am not a spoiled brat).”
The OVP said the interview was conducted on September 4.
The Vice President, who rarely gives interviews to Manila-based reporters, said that as a public official, she is used to answering the public’s questions through the media.
“I’m used to answering questions about things. That’s why I give interviews even though it’s not pre-arranged, as well as ambush interviews by the media where they ask questions from the people. I’m used to that,” she said in Filipino.
During last month’s deliberations, a combative Duterte was repeatedly told to respect the panel after she repeatedly questioned the rulings of presiding chair Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo and House rules, and even tried to raise motions despite not being a member of the chamber.
At one point, the Vice President even requested that the presiding chair be replaced, prompting Quimbo, a senior vice chair of the panel, to tell the Vice President that she does not have such powers.
Quimbo also had to remind the Vice President that she has to answer the questions of House members and observe decorum when responding to lawmakers, who have the power of the purse as enshrined under the Constitution.
‘ATTACKS’
The Vice President continued to criticize lawmakers, saying some of them just did not like the way she answered their questions.
“I think that some members of the House of Representatives are not used to not getting what they want and what they want to hear. Some of them aren’t used to getting answers to their attacks. So I think this was part of their attacks to say. ‘She’s a bratinella,’ even though I answered them. They just didn’t like my answer),” she said.
She said the reason she did not want to defend the OVP’s budget through a question and answer manner was because lawmakers are using the deliberations as a venue to attack her.
She also said the country’s budget is being held by only two persons. She did not elaborate.
The Vice President, however, said she still respects Congress’ constitutional power of the purse.
“We recognize that. That’s why we went to the Senate hearing. We went to the House of Representatives’ hearing because we presented our budget. What I did was I just wanted to forgo the question and answer part of the budget hearing,” she said.
DIRECT ANSWERS
House members challenged the Vice President Sara Duterte to prove she is not a spoiled brat by respecting the budget deliberations and providing lawmakers, who are representatives of the people, with the clear and direct answers.
“Why are you explaining outside the House, VP? Speak here during the budget process in the name if transparency and accountability because we’re talking about the people’s money here,” Rep. Jude Acidre (PL, Tingog) said in Filipino.
Acidre said the budget hearings ensure that public funds are allocated responsibly for agencies, including the OVP, to justify their expenses and not to “attack” the Vice President.
“If she claims not to be a ‘spoiled brat,’ she must prove it by respecting the process and providing the answers we need to evaluate her office’s budget,” he said.
Taguig Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora said that budget deliberations are not about “getting what we want” or “hearing what we want to hear” but about ensuring public funds are used properly.
“It is our duty to ask tough questions, and it’s her duty as an elected official to respond thoroughly and with clarity,” Zamora said. “Dismissing our queries as ‘patutsada’ undermines the process and the institution we are all part of. We ask for professionalism.”
Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon (PL, Ako Bicol) urged the Vice President “to stop framing the hearing as a personal attack and instead recognize it as part of her responsibility as the country’s second-highest official.”
“The refusal to answer questions about the confidential funds only raises more concerns. If she believes she has done no wrong, she should welcome the chance to explain her office’s actions. Public service requires transparency and humility, especially in handling public funds,” he said.
MISDEEDS
Rep. France Castro (PL, ACT), a member of the militant Makabayan bloc who was the first to question the OVP’s alleged misuse of confidential funds, said Duterte is again “using squid tactics to cover up her misdeeds.”
“She should just stop the drama and explain where and how she spent P125 million confidential funds in 11 days,” she said. “She should explain to the House instead of recording a video. She should face the committee and explain there. It is crucial that Vice President Duterte provides a clear and detailed explanation to Congress and to the Filipino people. This is not about political attacks; it is about ensuring that public resources are used properly and justly,” Castro said.
Castro also assailed presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos for saying that plans to impeach Duterte “is an attack on democracy.”
“Impeachment is a constitutional mechanism that serves as a recourse for the people against abuse by high government officials. It is an essential part of our democratic processes to ensure that leaders remain accountable to the people they serve,” Castro said.
Castro said Marcos’ statement is clearly an attempt to undermine the democratic process. “Threatening those who wish to exercise their right to hold officials accountable is a direct attack on democracy. It is imperative that we uphold the people’s right to seek redress against abuses of power,” she added.
“We must not allow the intimidation of those who seek to uphold accountability and justice. It is through these mechanisms that we protect the rights and will of the people,” she said.
