Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel III challenged Congress to stop merely acting tough and instead exercise real power over the Vice President’s budget.
In an interview with radio DzBB, Pimentel said Congress should take seriously Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement that she would leave it with Congress what to decide with her budget. Duterte is requesting P2 billion budget for her office for 2025.
“Ang sabi niya, I will leave it to Congress kung anong gagawin sa budget ko at iyon ay paulit-ulit, that means seryoso siya ron. Sinabi rin niya ‘yun sa Senate. Hindi lang ngayong Congress niya sinabi iyon, sinabi rin niya last year iyon, in a more respectful way,” the veteran legislator said.
“Eh ‘di dapat magpakitang gilas ang Congress. Hindi ‘yung patapang-tapang.”
“Eh ‘di dapat magpakitang gilas ang Congress. Hindi ‘yung patapang-tapang pero pagkatapos as is din pala ang budget,” the seasoned lawmaker stressed.
The senator said that the Vice President herself has repeatedly expressed willingness to leave her budget in the hands of Congress.
In a statement, he said Congress should go beyond tough talk and instead use its wisdom and power of the purse to align the OVP’s budget with its constitutional mandate.
“Congress shouldn’t just act tough during hearings and then approve the budget as is. If you’re going to show strength, follow through by making sure the budget aligns with the Vice President’s constitutional role,” Pimentel said.
The 1987 Constitution provides for the Vice President to take the place of the President in case of the President’s death, permanent disability, removal or resignation from office.
He emphasized that the Vice President’s primary responsibility is to be ready to assume the presidency at any moment, as mandated by the Constitution.
The Vice President’s budget should be used for essential preparations—seminars, briefings, and other activities that ensure she is ready to assume the presidency if required. This is what the Constitution demands, and this is where our focus should be,” Pimentel said.
It is not the Vice President’s role to distribute school bags or run bus routes or distribute books, according to Pimentel.
“Hindi na niya role ang mamigay ng school bags. Hindi na niya role ang magpatakbo ng mga bus.”
“Ang role ng vice president ay maging palaging handa na maging president sakaling may mangyari sa nakaupong president. Hindi na niya role ang mamigay ng school bags. Hindi na niya role ang magpatakbo ng mga bus. Sayang ang oras nila ron. Pati ba naman ang mga ruta ng bus,” Pimentel stressed.
He also raised concerns about the duplication of government programs by the OVP.
Pimentel suggested that rather than having a separate budget for social assistance, the OVP should rely on existing agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide aid when necessary.
