SENATE President Francis Chiz Escudero urged the need for the Office of the Vice President and the House of Representatives to follow the proper process as he appealed for both– the OVP and Congress –to set aside biases and work toward a resolution.

Escudero’s reaction came amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the potential zero budget for the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Escudero encouraged heads of agencies to fully participate in the budget process, stating: “I therefore urge and encourage Heads of Agencies, regardless of their fears, biases or prejudices, to go through the budget process and let Congress do its Constitutionally-mandated job.”

Escudero acknowledged that while Congress has the “power of the purse,” it has never allocated a zero budget to the OVP or any other agency in recent years.

He emphasized that the ongoing budget deliberations should follow the proper process, urging both the OVP and the House of Representatives to set aside biases and work toward a resolution.

Escudero remained hopeful that the impasse between the OVP and the House would be resolved.

“I am hopeful though that the seeming impasse between the OVP and the House will be resolved where either or both would take a step back, set aside their differences/biases, simply follow the process or, at the end of the day, for Congress (in the exercise of its wisdom) to decide on this and other related matters by a vote,” he said.

Despite Vice President Sara Duterte’s statement that the OVP is prepared to work with no budget, Escudero pointed out that budget deliberations should be handled seriously.

He noted that while the current controversy has added drama to the normally mundane budget process, it is not beneficial to the country’s pressing problems.

Duterte’s remarks came after claims surfaced that her office’s budget might be reduced to P1 or even zero.

The issue began after the Commission on Audit (COA) flagged inappropriate spending of P73 million from the OVP’s P125 million confidential funds for 2022.

Lawmakers have been calling for accountability from the OVP to explain these discrepancies. However, the budget hearings have been repeatedly deferred, leaving the OVP’s proposed 2025 budget of P2.037 billion in limbo.

The potential reduction of the OVP’s budget to P1 or zero stems from the COA’s findings regarding the mismanagement of confidential funds.

While Vice President Duterte has expressed readiness to work with a zero budget, lawmakers have emphasized the importance of maintaining funds for the office’s operations and personnel.

The situation has been further complicated by accusations of a conspiracy against Duterte from key House figures, although these lawmakers deny any intent to defund the OVP entirely.

The controversy continues as the OVP’s budget hearings remain unresolved which

Escudero said is not proper and should not be encouraged.