Vice President Sara Duterte attends a hearing for the Office of the Vice President's 2025 budget at the House of Representatives on August 27, 2024.  Photo courtesy of the House of Representatives  

DAVAO CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte expressed her sympathy on Wednesday for her subordinates at the Office of the Vice President, who have been invited and questioned by lawmakers as the House of Representatives continues its investigation into the office's expenditures. 

This was Duterte's response when asked by the media in Butuan City about her biggest challenge currently as vice president, saying that OVP staff and officials are not politicians should not have to deal with political differences.

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"Ang akong mga kauban sa OVP kay kung makit-an ninyo, luoy gyud kaayo sila. Sa pag-persecute sa akoa, sa paggukod sa akoa, sa pagdaot sa akong pangalan, naapil ang ilang trabaho, naapil ang ilang pangalan," she said.

(Ang mga kasama ko sa OVP, kung makikita niyo, kawawang-kawawa sila. Sa pag-persecute sa akin, sa paghahabol sa akin, sa paninira ng aking pangalan, nadamay ang kanilang trabaho pati ang kanilang pangalan)

A House panel is looking into the use of confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education, which Duterte led until July.

Duterte said her biggest challenge is also how to help her staff amid the ongoing Congress hearing.

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She also denied a lawmaker's alleged claim that she is in Butuan City as her staff Gina Acosta is hiding in Caraga region. 

"Well, alam naman ng lahat na it's the 89th anniversary ng Office of the Vice President. In fact, sa susunod na araw, nasa Bukidnon kami for Central Mindanao, and nasa Lanao del Sur kami for BARMM. And then, nasa Isabela City kami for Western Mindanao, and then meron din kami sa Cebu, Leyte, Ifugao," she said.

The possible budget cuts for the OVP will also threaten the jobs of approximately 200 personnel, Duterte said.

The vice president is still leaving the budget decision in the hands of the House and the Senate, saying they will accept the budget that will be given to the OVP, which she said will be used on its programs and projects.

Duterte remains uncertain about whether any satellite offices will be closed if the budget is reduced.

However, she assured the public that she has ordered the satellite offices to use their resources efficiently to assist those in need.

Meanwhile, Duterte also answered the statements of lawmakers that the OVP is just duplicating the programs of government agencies.

"Dili nato siya masulti nga duplication tungod kay ang isa ka ahensya sa gobyerno, kung dunay moduol nga tawo nga nanginahanglan, dili siya pwede moingon nga dili ko motabang sa imoha. So ang mga tao, naanad man na sila nga dunay medical and burial assistance ang OVP kay dili lang man na karon," she said.

(Hindi natin masasabi na duplication dahil ang isang ahensya ng gobyerno, kung may taong lalapit para humingi ng tulong, hindi pwedeng sabihin mo na lang na ayaw kitang tulungan. So nasanay ang mga tao na mayroong medical at burial assistance ang OVP dahil hindi lang naman ito ngayon nangyari.)

Duterte mentioned that the OVP's assistance for those in need began during the term of then Vice President Noli De Castro and was continued by succeeding vice presidents.

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