A key leader of the House Committee on Appropriations has pledged that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) will receive full professional courtesy and respect when lawmakers review its proposal under the upcoming ₱7.2-trillion National Expenditure Program.
This assurance comes even as 11 representatives serving as prosecutors in an ongoing Senate impeachment trial continue to push for Vice President Sara Duterte’s conviction.
Speaking in a radio interview on August 16, Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong, who acts as a spokesperson for the prosecution panel, emphasized that the lower chamber has consistently maintained procedural respect for the executive office.
He recalled that during the previous budget review, lawmakers permitted floor deliberations on the OVP’s spending plan even though Duterte did not attend.
“The mere fact that we allowed her budget to be deliberated on the floor, even without her presence, is a manifestation of that courtesy that we have extended to her office,” Adiong stated.
However, Adiong clarified that institutional courtesy does not grant immunity from legislative oversight or prevent committee members from examining proposed expenditures.
“Respect is there, but it does not also mean that she should be immune from questions; that we disallow or we preclude members of the appropriations committee from asking questions about certain matters pertaining to her budget,” Adiong noted.
He highlighted that participating in legislative hearings is an essential requirement for any agency seeking public funds, given the constitutional mandate of representatives to represent taxpayers.
“‘Pag budget po na yung hinihingi ng ahensya, dapat humarap ka. Kasi ang mga miyembro ng House of Representatives, they represent the people all over the country,” he said.
“Eh di kung wala hong naman magtanong sa amin tungkol sa budget na ‘yan, eh that is also dereliction of our duty kasi we are being paid by taxpayers’ money to precisely ask these agencies where and how they implement these programs and projects that we approved,” Adiong added.
The lawmaker revealed that he personally attempted to reach out to his fellow Mindanaoan in the previous budget cycle to discuss the agency’s proposal, though he received no response.
“I was the first, one of the first sponsors of her budget. At na-ghosting po ako,” he recalled.
Despite past challenges, Adiong reiterated that the lower chamber remains eager to engage with the OVP as the new budget cycle begins.
“What is important is that the House of Representatives expects and hopes that she would attend the coming budget deliberation,” he concluded.