The Senate Impeachment Court has temporarily suspended proceedings for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte until November to give the defense team sufficient time for its presentation of evidence.
The trial recess will also allow the Senate to address legislative matters, including deliberations on the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2027.
On Tuesday, the Office of the Vice President appeared before the Senate Subcommittee on Finance to defend its proposed 2027 budget amounting to P785.2 million.
This came after the House of Representatives approved the proposed national budget and transmitted it to the Senate.
As was the case during the budget hearing at the House, Duterte did not personally attend the Senate deliberations on the OVP budget. The office was once again represented by OVP Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez.
According to Lopez, the Vice President had a scheduling conflict, as she attended the inurnment of a Davao City planner on behalf of her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, preventing her from attending the hearing.
Despite her absence, the Senate Subcommittee on Finance opted to extend interparliamentary courtesy to the OVP during deliberations on its proposed budget.
Senate President Win Gatchalian recognized the OVP’s continued implementation of its programs despite the reduction in its budget over the past few years.
For fiscal year 2027, the OVP’s proposed budget was reduced by 11 percent.
Despite the limited funding, Lopez assured lawmakers that most of the OVP’s programs and services would continue.
These include its social programs, Libreng Sakay, and the Magnegosyo ‘Ta Day program, which is currently undergoing assessment by the OVP.
The Senate also expressed support for the continued implementation of the Office of the Vice President’s programs.
Despite Duterte’s absence from Tuesday’s hearing, Senate President Win Gatchalian expressed hope that she would attend the plenary hearing on the OVP budget.
Committee Chair Senator JV Ejercito also expressed hope that the Vice President would attend the next hearing, despite the tensions surrounding her ongoing impeachment trial.