Escudero urges VP Duterte, House to resolve OVP budget dispute

Senate President Francis Escudero urged Vice President Sara Duterte and House members to set aside their biases and adhere to the budget process amid escalating tensions over the proposed 2025 Office of the Vice President (OVP) budget.

Escudero emphasized that Congress should decide on this matter through a vote, urging agency heads to participate actively in the budget process.

Vice President Duterte refused to defend her office's proposed budget and accused House leaders of political harassment during a series of taped interviews released by the OVP.

House committee on appropriations recommended slashing the proposed OVP budget from P2.037 billion to P733.198 million, with the realigned funds going to other government programs.

Despite Duterte's claim that she is prepared to operate with a zero budget if Congress decides to defund her office, lawmakers have consistently denied any discussions about providing the OVP with zero funding.

The Senate has completed committee-level deliberations on the OVP budget but has yet to begin plenary debates on the 2025 budget.