MANILA, Philippines — The P902.8 million budget of the Office of the Vice President was approved by the House Committee on Appropriations during a short hearing on Tuesday.
Vice President Sara Duterte appeared before panel chairman and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Suansing, budget sponsor and vice chairman Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, and other members of the appropriations committee, including her mentor, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co asked Duterte about her foreign travels and the use of confidential funds, which were the subject of her impeachment trial.
Duterte reiterated that she never used any public funds for her own tickets and incidental expenses.
“If I have activities for the OVP abroad, the three OVP personnel join the trips but if the trip is purely personal, they do not join. In the case of security personnel, this is something that is beyond the OVP, that is decided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Duterte said.
Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice moved to terminate the budget hearing after the two minority lawmakers asked their questions.
