KINONDENA ni Deputy Minority Leader at Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima noong Huwebes ng gabi ang paulit-ulit na pagliban ni Pangalawang Pangulong Sara Duterte sa deliberasyon ng Kamara ukol sa panukalang badyet ng kanyang tanggapan para sa 2026.

Ani De Lima, ito ay “grave insult and disrespect” sa Kongreso at sa Konstitusyon.

Sa plenary deliberations, nagpahayag si De Lima ng isang parliamentary inquiry at humingi ng paglilinaw mula kay Palawan Rep. Pepito Alvarez, ang sponsor ng budget ng Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“Did I hear it right that there is no one present from the Office of the Vice President right now in these proceedings?” usisa ni De Lima.

“Affirmative, Mr. Speaker,” tugon ni Alvarez.

Binanggit ni De Lima na ito ang ikatlong nakatakdang pagdinig para sa badyet ng OVP na hindi pa rin dinaluhan ni Duterte.

Tinukoy rin niya ang liham ng Pangalawang Pangulo na may petsang Setyembre 30, 2025, kung saan nakasaad ang dalawang kundisyon para sa kanyang pagdalo―na dapat ay naroon din si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa pagdinig ng badyet ng kanyang tanggapan, at alisin ang immigration lookout bulletin laban sa pitong opisyal ng OVP.

“Does the committee have the intention to respond to this letter of the Vice President?” tanong ni De Lima.

Sagot ni Alvarez: “Mr. Speaker, the committee will no longer respond to this letter, being the last day today.”

Bagaman tinanggap ni De Lima ang posisyon ng komite, mariin niyang kinondena ang hindi pagdalo ni Duterte.

“This actuation on the part of the Vice President is very appalling. Her repeated non-appearance before the body shows insult, grave insult and disrespect to this institution,” aniya.

“If she cannot respect us―the Members of the House of Representatives―at least respect the House of Representatives as an institution, at least respect the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines,” dagdag pa niya.

Binigyang-diin ni De Lima na ang budget process ay isang constitutional mandate. “So disrespecting the budgetary process of this body is a clear case of disrespect of our Constitution,” wika niya.

Ikinumpara rin niya ang pagdalo ni Duterte sa mga aktibidad sa Senado sa kanyang pagtangging humarap sa Kamara.

“If she can afford to be showing herself up to the Senate, including being there and applauding the former Senate President in his privilege speech, which is definitely not part of her mandate as a Vice President, why can’t she not spare a few moments of her time attending to her official function as Vice President to defend the budget of her office,” mariing pahayag ni De Lima. “Enough is enough! Enough of her brattiness!”

Ipinahayag ng mambabatas na isusulong niya ang pagbabawas sa badyet ng OVP.

“I actually intended initially to move for zero budget or for the disapproval of the budget of the Office of the Vice President… But after some reflections, and out of courtesy also and consideration to the personnel and staff of the Office of the Vice President, I’m just now thinking of moving for the decrease, let’s say, for the retention of the MOOE and personnel services budget and get rid of the operational budget of the Office of the Vice President,” sinabi ni De Lima.

Nangako si De Lima na gagawin ang pormal na mosyon sa panahon ng mga amyenda. “And I hope that my colleagues will join me in that motion or in that amendment,” dagdag niya.