VICE President Sara Duterte described the condition of her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, as “okay” but did not provide further details on his well-being.
Duterte issued the remark amid speculations on the former president’s mental acuity.
Duterte’s defense team moved to postpone the Sept. 23 confirmation of charges against him at the International Criminal Court (ICC), citing his “deteriorating cognitive condition.”
Speaking to reporters after the budget hearing of the Office of the Vice President on Tuesday, Duterte said she had a telephone conversation with her father on Friday concerning political issues, including the fraudulent flood control projects under the Marcos administration.
She did not elaborate on what transpired during the conversations as she was not allowed by the ICC to share them publicly.
Duterte did not answer queries on whether her father would be fit to stand trial.
“Let’s just wait for the hearing on his competency, if there are any. I am sure the experts will say something they will see,” Duterte said.
She brushed aside the creation of an Independent Commission for Infrastructure by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“What commission or investigative body do you need? The budget is there, you saw how it was taken away. You should have removed your Speaker and told your allies at the House to fix the budget?” Duterte said.
Meanwhile, the P902.8 million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) has been approved by the House Committee on Appropriations.
Duterte deliberated the OVP budget 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.
Of the proposed P902.895 billion budget, she said 23.54 percent, or P212.538 million, will be used for personnel services, including wages and compensation for its staff, while 74.62 percent, or P673.753 million, would be allocated for maintenance and other operating expenses. The remaining 1.84 percent, or P16.6 million, would be earmarked as capital outlay for information and communication technology.
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, factors included in the impeachment complaints against her.
Duterte reiterated that she never used any public funds for her travels and incidental expenses.
“If I have activities for the OVP abroad, three OVP personnel join the trips, but if the trip is purely personal, they do not join the trips. 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.
