📷Gabriela Women’s Partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas
JUST like her dad, Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged refusal to run for the country’s top elective post in the 2028 presidential election is no more than a bluff, says Gabriela partylist Rep. Arlene Brosas.
Following VP Sara’s announcement on her supposed political plan after emerging on top of the 2028 presidentiables in a non-commissioned survey, Brosas said that such a claim of no interest in running for President should not be taken seriously even as she cited former President Rodrigo Duterte doing exactly the same tactic before the 2022 presidential derby.
“Her announcement should be taken with a grain of salt. Hindi kami naniniwala lalo’t mana siya sa tatay niya – kunwari ayaw tumakbo pero kalaunan ay maghahain ng kandidatura,” Brosas said in her statement.
In case the Vice President opts to retire from politics, “it would be her greatest contribution to the country, as it spares our nation from a continuation of governance that prioritizes personal interests over public welfare,” she added.
“Ang hiling ng mga Pilipino ay isang bagong pulitika na magsisilbi sa mamamayan, at hindi yung bulok na pulitika na pansariling interes lang ang binibigyang halaga,” she continued.
She however remains in doubt over the young Duterte’s announcement, citing VP Sara’s predicament – to keep the family in power if only to protect her father from being incarcerated over a long list of systematic deaths forming part of the previous administration’s drug war.
“Anuman ang kanyang mga ambisyon sa pulitika, kailangan pa rin niyang harapin, kasama ang kanyang ama na si dating Pangulong Duterte, ang mga isyu sa kanila kaugnay ng war on drugs at mga extrajudicial killings. Hindi niya maaaring takbuhan ang malakas na panawagan ng mamamayan para sa hustisya sa mga biktima ng nakaraang administrasyon.”
In the Senate finance committee hearing on the proposed 2025 budget for the Office of the Vice President, VP Sara engaged in a word war against opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros.
During the hearing, Duterte was asked to provide an explanation on why there is a need for a separate budget for programs similar to those of the labor and social welfare agencies.
The Vice President cited the need for a separate allocation since she has become a target of politicking in the executive department’s line agencies.
To prove her point, Duterte particularly cited instances when her referrals have been rejected amid “political allegiance” for which Hontiveros hinted at making a motion to reallocate the budget for the OVP’s assistance programs to the relevant agencies, including DOLE.
Duterte was again asked by Hontiveros about “Isang Kaibigan,” a children’s book she authored, and its proposed budget of P10 million to be distributed to learners.
An obviously pissed off Duterte, however, declined to answer – but voiced out her presumption that Hontiveros seemed headed to reallocate (again) the OVP’s budget for assistance programs, which according to her is a classic example of politicizing the budget hearing.
“This is an example of politicizing the budget hearing through the questions of a senator. Ang problema niya kasi nakalagay yung pangalan ko doon sa libro at yung libro na yan ibibigay namin sa mga bata at yung mga bata na yan may mga magulang na boboto. At yung pangalan ko nagkalat doon sa kung saan man ibibigay yung libro. Madam chair, we commit to send tomorrow… a copy of the book,” Duterte said.
In response, Hontiveros said: “Hindi ko maintindihan yung ugali ng ating resource person. It is a simple question, paulit-ulit na this is politicizing… I don’t appreciate this kind of attitude.”
Duterte replied, “Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang ugali ni Sen. Risa Hontiveros and I do not appreciate…this kind of behavior and attitude.”
According to the Vice President, Hontiveros has long been targeting her family.
“Noong nanalo siya…siya ang pinakaunang umatake kay President Rodrigo Duterte. Anong tawag sa ugaling ganito?” Duterte said.
“This is public funds, and we’re making inquiries. Budget hearing po ito, hindi po lahat about you, pera po ito ng taumbayan,” the senator said.
It was then that Senate Finance panel chair Sen. Grace Poe intervened and asked resource persons to stick to the topic of the budget. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
