Quimbo cites OVP budget defense as toughest task

Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo found defending the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) budget, particularly its confidential funds, to be the most challenging task of her legislative career.

Quimbo refuted Vice President Sara Duterte's claim that the scrutiny of the OVP's P125 million confidential funds was part of a politically motivated "script."

The issue began in September 2023 when Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas questioned the timeline of the OVP's confidential fund utilization, which Quimbo clarified was spent within an 11-day period in December 2022.

Vice President Duterte had previously called the questioning of the funds' use in 11 days the "starting point of a script."

During a Tuesday budget hearing, Quimbo emotionally admitted that detailing the OVP's spending was the most difficult moment of her five years in Congress.

Despite Quimbo's past defense of the OVP's confidential funds, Duterte recently antagonized her by attempting to have her replaced as the presiding officer during the House budget deliberations for the OVP.

During the hearing, Duterte expressed frustration with the question-and-answer format, stating she would only give a "scripted answer" and warning they would "waste time."