Vice Pres. Sara Duterte Attends House Hearing on OVP Proposed Budget for 2026
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President inserted an unexpected question during a House hearing asking about possible familial relations between Congressman Zaldy Co and Kabataan Representative Renee Co.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives are conducting deliberations on the proposed budget of the different government offices and agencies for 2026. Recently, the House of Representatives conducted its second hearing on the OVP proposed budget for next year.
During the first House hearing, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and the OVP staff were no show at the House inquiry over her office’s proposed budget for 2026. Palawan Representative Jose Alvarez claimed that he advised the OVP to skip the hearing if neither Vice Pres. Duterte nor undersecretary Zuleika Lopez will not attend the inquiry.
The OVP issued a clarification that it was the House that declined their delegation. The OVP also shared a screenshot of the alleged conversation between Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and a congressman wherein the VP said that she won’t let Usec. Zuleika Lopez attend the House deliberation. She offered to be the one to appear at the inquiry.
Indeed, the Vice President appeared at the House of Representatives today. No OVP staff was with the Vice President. She answered some questions over the proposed budget of her office for 2026 but she also refused to answer questions about the controversial confidential funds.
During the House hearing, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was asked by Kabataan Representative Renee Co how the OVP funds for the flight and accommodations of her staff and the security personnel. However, based on a post of Inquirer, her question is met with another question.
Duterte asked the chairman of the budget deliberation if she will be allowed to ask a question — to which Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez responded that it would depend on the nature of the quest. After which, the Vice President asked if Congressman Zaldy Co and Kabataan Rep. Renee Co are related.
“Magpinsan po ba si Congressman Co ngayon tsaka si Zaldy Co? Are they relatives?” the Vice President said based on the post.
The Kabataan Representative was quick to answer that she has no familial relations with Cong. Zaldy Co or to any of his relatives. The Congressman is one of the government officials whose names were dragged into the flood control mess in the Philippines.
Controversial contractors Pacifico and Sarah Discayas claimed that 30% kickbacks from flood control projects allegedly go to Cong. Zaldy Co and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.