VP Sara Duterte, OVP officers and staff, no-show sa ipinagpatuloy na budget hearing sa Kongreso

- VP Sara Duterte and OVP representatives were noticeably absent during the resumption of the budget hearing at the House of Representatives

- At the beginning of the hearing, committee chairperson, Rep. Stella Quimbo, read a letter from the Office of the Vice President and decided to wait for an hour for any OVP representatives

- It can be recalled that during the budget briefing of the OVP last August 24, the committee decided to defer its termination today, September 10

- After an hour of waiting for a representative from the OVP, the hearing continued

VP Sara Duterte and OVP representative were a no-show during the resumption of the budget hearing at the House of Representatives.

The committee chairperson, Rep. Stella Quimbo, at the beginning of the hearing read a letter from the Office of the Vice President addressed to the Speaker of the House.

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“I would like to inform the body that we are in receipt of a letter, 10 September 2024, and I will read the letter, it is addressed to the Speaker,” Rep. Quimbo said.

“Dear Speaker Romualdez, the Office of the Vice President has submitted all necessary documentation to the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, including a detailed presentation on the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2025. I have also articulated my position on the issues outlined in my opening statement during the previous hearing on 27 August 2024. We defer entirely to the discretion and of the committee regarding our budget proposal for the coming year. Very truly yours, Sara Z. Duterte,” the letter read by Rep. Quimbo stated.

Since there was no mention as to whether the Vice President will attend the hearing, Rep. Quimbo said they will extend the courtesy to her office by waiting for an hour.

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However, after an hour, VP Sara or any representatives from the OVP still were not present and so the chairperson decided to continue with the hearing.

Sara Zimmerman Duterte-Carpio, commonly known as Inday Sara, is a Filipino lawyer and politician who currently serves as the 15th vice president of the Philippines. She is notable for being the third female vice president, the third vice president from Mindanao, and the youngest vice president in the country's history. Duterte held the position of secretary of education until July 19, 2024. She is the daughter of the 16th president, Rodrigo Duterte, and has served as the mayor of Davao City from 2016 to 2022 and from 2010 to 2013. Additionally, she was Davao City's vice mayor from 2007 to 2010.

Recently, the Vice President Sara Duterte denied allegations she committed plagiarism. The work that was being alleged was the book that she authored "Isang Kaibigan." According to VP, it was really easy to write a short story based on one's personal experience. She also gave the public an idea about the next book that she will be writing about betrayal.

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Previously, the VP, during the Senate hearing for the OVP budget, said she doesn’t want to be “plastic.” This was her reply to the request of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano for parties in the hearing to be cordial. Earlier during the same hearing, VP Sara and Sen. Risa Hontiveros figured in a heated exchange. This was after Sen. Risa asked about the book project of VP Sara called “Isang Kaibigan.”

Source: KAMI.com.gh