Inudyukan ni Assistant House Majority Leader at Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon si Vice President Sara Duterte na bumaba na lamang sa puesto ganang aniya ay wala ring interest ang bise presidente sa pagtanggol ng budget ng opisina nito.
No show si Duterte at ang mga opisyal ng Office of the Vice President (OVP) sa House plenary hearing noong Martes kung saan dapat sana ay didinggin ang budget nito para sa taong 2025.
“If she is not interested in her duties and functions as the vice president, we can ask the Vice President to step down,” saad ni Bongalon sa isang press briefing.
Ayon sa mga report, si Duterte ay nasa Calaguas Island sa Camarines Norte sa araw ng nasabing pag-dinig. Saad naman ng OVP, isang official trip ang pagpunta ni Duterte sa nasabing lugar. Saad pa nito, makikita naman sa mga posts ng vice president sa social media ang nasabing trip.
“In other words, it meant that she has no intention of attending our plenary hearings to sponsor and defend the OVP’s budget. If she has that intention, she should have been in Manila on Sunday, or she should have communicated to the office of Rep. Adiong to brief him and prepare questions,” dagdag pa ni Bongalon.
Saad naman ni Deputy Speaker David Suarez, maraming mga mambabatas din ang equally frustrated sa bise presidente sa hindi niya pagsipot.
“As head of an agency, you have to go through the process,” ani ni Suarez.
“The vice president can attend the plenary presentation, not for the House, but at least for the Filipino people, her staff, and for Congressman Adiong, who comes from Mindanao. During the plenary phase of the budget process, the head of agency does not speak but should have been in Manila on Sunday, or she should have communicated to the office of Rep. Adiong to brief him and prepare questions,” dagdag pa ni Bongalon.
Saad naman ni Deputy Speaker David Suarez, maraming mga mambabatas din ang equally frustrated sa bise presidente sa hindi niya pagsipot.
“As head of an agency, you have to go through the process,” ani Suarez.
“The vice president can attend the plenary presentation, not for the House, but at least for the Filipino people, her staff, and for Congressman Adiong, who comes from Mindanao. During the plenary phase of the budget process, the head of agency does not speak but should be present in the gallery behind the sponsor of the agency budget,” ang sabi naman ni Manila Representative Rolando Valeriano.
Photo credit: Facebook/OfficeOfTheVicePresidentPH