VP Sara Duterte sets conditions for House budget hearing appearance

Vice President Sara Duterte has set two conditions for her appearance at the House of Representatives' plenary debates on the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) budget: President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. must defend his office's budget, and the Immigration Lookout Bulletin Order (ILBO) against seven OVP personnel must be lifted.

The OVP's 2026 budget deliberations were twice postponed due to Duterte's absence and the lack of an undersecretary-level representative.

Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and the Makabayan bloc sought a substantial cut in the P903-million proposed budget of the OVP for 2026 following Duterte's snub.

Duterte is reportedly in Cebu attending to earthquake victims.

Minority lawmakers have expressed disappointment with Duterte's absence and conditions, suggesting Congress is justified in trimming the OVP's proposed P902.8 million 2026 budget.

Some lawmakers suggested trimming the OVP's budget to around P700 million or less.

The OVP personnel named in the ILBO were previously questioned by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability over the OVP's disbursement of confidential funds.