OVP budget hearing done in 16 minutes

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian looks on as Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff of the Office of the Vice President, delivers her remarks during the Senate hearing on the OVP’s proposed 2027 budget on October 20, 2026.

Ryan Baldemor

MANILA, Philippines — Despite a break in her impeachment trial, Vice President Sara Duterte snubbed her office’s budget hearing at the Senate yesterday and instead attended the inurnment of her longtime city planner in Davao.

But the senators still approved for plenary debate the Office of the Vice President (OVP)’s proposed P785-million budget for 2027 after just 16 minutes of hearing by the Senate finance committee.

The OVP’s proposed 2027 budget is down 11 percent from its 2026 approved budget of P889 million.

OVP chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio represented the Vice President. They had also attended the previous impeachment trial, with Ortonio testifying as the prosecution’s hostile witness on the impeachment article on confidential funds misuse.

When Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian asked Lopez about Duterte, Lopez said Duterte is representing her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, in the inurnment rites.

Gatchalian said the Senate is hoping the Vice President would appear for the plenary debate of her agency’s budget.

“We hope she can give time to represent her office and defend your budget in plenary,” Gatchalian said.

When Senate finance chairman JV Ejercito asked if the OVP wanted the Senate to augment their budget for their ongoing free bus ride and livelihood programs, Lopez said the office would only “recalibrate” and not ask for more funding even though it would reduce their number of beneficiaries.

Duterte’s allies Sen. Imee Marcos and Sen. Bong Go moved for the committee approval of the OVP budget due to parliamentary courtesy.

Ejercito lauded the OVP for pushing through with their programs despite their limited budget, as he hoped for “unity” in the country despite the “political noise.”