THE House Committee on Appropriations on Tuesday approved the P902.8 million budget proposed by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2026.
The House panel chaired by Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing terminated the budget hearing after VP Sara Duterte answered some of the questions raised by two members of the minority bloc. Reps. Antonio Tinio and Renee Co had asked the Vice President about her office’s use of its annual budget, including her confidential funds and travel expenses.
On her travel expenses, the VP said her office has spent P7.4 million for her security and staff who have provided their services and assistance during her foreign trips since July last year. She spends for her own trips and does not charge the government a single centavo for her plane tickets and accommodations, she added.
Duterte declined to answer questions about confidential funds, saying she did not want to reveal her defense team’s strategy since the matter remained the subject of the Articles of Impeachment against her.
