Recently, the Senate upheld the P1.3-billion budget cut for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for 2025, following an initial reduction by the House of Representatives. This adjustment lowered the OVP's proposed budget from P2.037 billion to P733.198 million. The Senate Finance Committee, led by Senator Grace Poe, retained the House's version, citing the OVP’s failure to submit documents explaining their budgetary needs. Poe emphasized the importance of accountability, especially as the proposed P6.352-trillion national budget prioritizes health, education, and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the OVP is under continued scrutiny due to allegations of misuse of confidential funds. Lawmakers have expressed concerns over the possible mismanagement of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the OVP and the Department of Education (DepEd) under the tenure of Vice President Sara Duterte. These concerns stem from reports of irregular fund allocations, including the rapid spending of P125 million within just 11 days in December 2022, and unidentified funds related to certain DepEd programs. Representative Gerville Luistro argued that there may be grounds for cases of malversation and breach of public trust, as only a portion of these funds have the proper documentation.
In response, the OVP questioned the legitimacy of the House investigation, stating that the hearings were not "in aid of legislation" and were redundant due to the ongoing audit by the Commission on Audit (COA). The OVP refused to comply with the subpoena from the House committee, citing procedural issues, and continues to debate the necessity of the hearings.
