The Office of the Vice President clarified the reason behind its absence during the House briefing on Friday, September 12 that led to the deferment of the hearing for its proposed budget for next year.
In a statement, the OVP claimed that it was the lower house that “declined to accept the OVP delegation”.
This is in response to reports the Vice President’s office skipped the budget hearing.
The OVP argued that the Assistant Secretary that was supposed to lead the delegation is a “senior official” who can defend the budget.
“For the information of the public, it was the House of Representatives that declined to accept the OVP delegation led by the Assistant Secretary — who is a senior official by reason of the status as presidential appointee — citing House tradition and stating that an Undersecretary should attend,” the statement read.
“At 10:07AM of September 12, the budget sponsor was duly informed that the Vice President herself would attend the hearing in lieu of an Undersecretary. However, instead of proceeding with the hearing, the budget sponsor opted to defer it and instructed the VP and the OVP group not to go to the HOR,” it added.
The OVP also released a screenshot of the supposed conversation between Duterte and the budget sponsor, showing that the sender asked for an undersecretary level to attend and defend the budget, and informing her that the they have to defer the briefing “until further notice”.
Duterte supposedly said that OVP Chief of Staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez “was sick” and that she will “attend in her stead”.
The message indeed bore a timestamp of 10:07 am but it was not indicated what time Duterte responded.
House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson Representative Jose Alvarez who is the OVP budget sponsor earlier explained that the head of the agency or an undersecretary should defend the budget before lawmakers as part of tradition during budget deliberations.
“Consistent with the tradition of the House na dapat head of agency or the very least Usec ang pumunta dito to defend the budget of the agency,” he had said.
“Noting the inconsistency doon sa letter, ako na mismo ang nag-advice sa kanila [kaninang] umaga na huwag na kayong pumunta dito dahil ganun din kung wala si Usec. Zuleika Lopez,” the congressman had added.
Alvarez said he had an assurance from Duterte herself that she will personally attend the House budget hearing on September 16, Tuesday.
