Senator Risa Hontiveros and Vice President Sara Duterte bump heads during the budget hearing. The VP appeared to take offense when the Senator questioned her budget for a book she’s publishing. VP said Hontiveros “politicized” her 2025 budget.

In the Senate Finance subcommittee hearing, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) proposed an over two billion peso budget. Here, Senator Risa Hontiveros pointed out a significant portion of their budget is set aside for socio-economic programs, including:

• Medical and burial assistance
• Disaster operations
• Food bags for specific families
• Livelihood assistance

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Here, the Senator pointed out how her proposal included very similar programs in other government agencies. These programs include:

• Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients (MAIFIP)
• Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and disaster response operations
• Integrated Livelihood Program 

To this, VP Sara Duterte responded, “Totoo po, merong mga ibang local government units at ibang national government agencies na ganito ang kanilang programa. Pero nung ako ay umupo as Vice President, I took an oath. And doon sa oath, I said that I will do justice to every man.”

Things quickly got heated between Risa Hontiveros and Sara Duterte when they talked about Duterte’s book. “Madam Chair (Senator Grace Poe), this is an example of politicizing the budget through the questions of a Senator. Ang problema niya kasi, nakalagay ‘yung pangalan ko doon sa libro. At ‘yung libro na ‘yan, ibibigay namin doon sa mga bata na may magulang na boboto.”

In response, the Senator answered, “Hindi ko maintidihan ‘yung ugali ng ating resource person. Paulit-ulit na this is politicizing. Ang VP ang nagbanggit ng salitang boboto. Wala akong sinabing boboto. We’re making so much trouble, so much fuss about a ₱10-million item that I’m asking. What is the book about?”

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Additionally, their exchange did not stop there. The Vice President brought up their alleged conversation during the 2016 elections. Here, she brought up how Hontiveros asked for the Dutertes’ help to secure votes in Mindanao.

Sara says that she supported Hontiveros even if she wasn’t running with the same party as her father. The VP even added, “Nanalo na siya at nung nanalo siya, anong ginawa niya? Siya ang pinakaunang umatake kay President Rodrigo Duterte. Anong tawag sa ugaling ganito?”

Aside from this, Hontiveros frequently makes headlines due to her involvement in other national issues. This includes her role in the case against POGOs. A few names who are allegedly involved in this issue are Alice Guo and former Senator Harry Roque.

See the exchange between Senator Risa Hontiveros and Vice President Sara Duterte here:

@senrisahontiveros

Simple lang naman ang tanong, VP Sara. Budget hearing ito. Hindi lahat about you. Pera ito ng taong bayan. #risahontiveros #hontiveros #senrisa #budget #ovp

♬ original sound – Risa Hontiveros – Risa Hontiveros

Sources: (1), (2)

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