Senate to ‘objectively’ assess OVP’s proposed budget

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will extend parliamentary courtesy to Vice President Sara Duterte and objectively evaluate her office’s proposed budget when it undergoes budget briefing before the chamber tomorrow, Sen. JV Ejercito said yesterday.

Ejercito, chair of the Senate finance committee, acknowledged the “awkwardness” surrounding the upcoming deliberations due to ongoing political tensions brought by Duterte’s impeachment, but maintained that the panel would focus strictly on the merits of the OVP’s programs.

Whether the Vice President personally attends the hearing or sends an authorized representative, the panel is ready to proceed, Ejercito told dzBB.

“But for me, as long as we hear a sound proposal for the OVP’s budget and if their programs are good, then we can certainly approve it,” he added.

When asked if the traditional parliamentary courtesy would still be granted to Duterte despite recent frictions, Ejercito said the Senate had always extended such courtesy to the OVP before the current “political noise” began.

The senator also dismissed the possibility of using the budget hearing to admonish the Vice President over her previous remarks regarding the Senate and her ongoing impeachment trial.

“Why would we admonish her? We already have a tense situation. Why would we add fuel to the fire? Right? We will not gain anything if we keep fighting each other,” Ejercito said.

He pointed out that the Philippines is being left behind by its Southeast Asian neighbors because domestic politics continually disrupt national development.