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Advocates Philippines
Senator Risa Hontiveros Claps Back At VP Duterte: 'I Dont Appreciate This Kind Of Attitude'
Photo credit: Senate of the Philippines
During a heated budget hearing, Senator Risa Hontiveros made it clear she wasn’t pleased with how Vice President Sara Duterte responded to her questions about the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) programs and budget. The exchange took place during the Senate Finance Subcommittee A briefing, where the OVP's proposed P2.037-billion budget for 2025 was on the table.
Hontiveros zeroed in on the "Pagbabago Campaign: A Million Learners and Trees" initiative, which comes with a hefty P100-million price tag. But what really caught her attention was the P10 million allocated for distributing the "Isang Kaibigan" book, authored by none other than VP Duterte herself. Hontiveros wanted to know more about the book's content and how many copies the government planned to purchase.
Things quickly got tense when Hontiveros asked, "Ilang mga libro ng 'Isang Kaibigan' ang bibilhin at ididistribute?" She was met with an unexpected response from the Vice President, who suggested that Hontiveros was politicizing the budget hearing. Duterte said, “This is an example of politicizing the budget hearing,” adding that Hontiveros' issue was with her name being on the book.
But Hontiveros wasn’t having it. She firmly replied, "I don’t appreciate this kind of attitude." She pointed out that it was a simple question about public funds, and it wasn’t about politics. "Hindi po lahat about you. Pera po ito ng taong bayan," she emphasized.
The exchange highlighted the underlying tension between the two, with Hontiveros maintaining her stance as she sought answers on behalf of the public, and VP Duterte standing her ground, albeit with a bit of personal history thrown into the mix. Despite the heated discussion, the focus of the hearing remained on the budget and ensuring transparency in the use of public funds.
In the end, the question of how many "Isang Kaibigan" books the government will distribute and whether it’s a justified expense remains in the spotlight, with Hontiveros leading the charge for clarity.
Hontiveros zeroed in on the "Pagbabago Campaign: A Million Learners and Trees" initiative, which comes with a hefty P100-million price tag. But what really caught her attention was the P10 million allocated for distributing the "Isang Kaibigan" book, authored by none other than VP Duterte herself. Hontiveros wanted to know more about the book's content and how many copies the government planned to purchase.
Things quickly got tense when Hontiveros asked, "Ilang mga libro ng 'Isang Kaibigan' ang bibilhin at ididistribute?" She was met with an unexpected response from the Vice President, who suggested that Hontiveros was politicizing the budget hearing. Duterte said, “This is an example of politicizing the budget hearing,” adding that Hontiveros' issue was with her name being on the book.
But Hontiveros wasn’t having it. She firmly replied, "I don’t appreciate this kind of attitude." She pointed out that it was a simple question about public funds, and it wasn’t about politics. "Hindi po lahat about you. Pera po ito ng taong bayan," she emphasized.
The exchange highlighted the underlying tension between the two, with Hontiveros maintaining her stance as she sought answers on behalf of the public, and VP Duterte standing her ground, albeit with a bit of personal history thrown into the mix. Despite the heated discussion, the focus of the hearing remained on the budget and ensuring transparency in the use of public funds.
In the end, the question of how many "Isang Kaibigan" books the government will distribute and whether it’s a justified expense remains in the spotlight, with Hontiveros leading the charge for clarity.
Aug 20, 2024
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