Senate panel approves OVP's proposed 2027 budget; Sara Duterte no-show

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A Senate finance subcommittee panel on Tuesday morning quickly approved the proposed P785.2 million budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) for fiscal year 2027.

Vice President Sara Duterte was not present during the budget briefing, but the OVP was represented by its chief of staff, Atty. Zuleika Lopez, and other officials.

Senator Imee Marcos moved to extend the traditional courtesy to the OVP and endorse it to the plenary with no much discussions and interpellations. This was seconded by Senator Bong Go.

Senator JV Ejercito, chairman of the Senate committee on finance, approved the motion. The briefing was terminated after 16 minutes.

Before the briefing was suspended, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian asked where the Vice President was.

“The Vice President is actually representing former president Rodrigo Duterte in the inurnment of our long serving city planner in Davao City. The schedule for the inurnment is today, October 20. So she’s the representative of the former president,” Lopez answered.

The OVP has proposed a P785.204-million budget for 2027, 11.7% lower than its P889.236-million appropriated budget for 2026. —AOL, GMA News