TWO lawmakers on Sunday told Sen. Joel Villanueva to respect inter-parliamentary boundaries and not interfere in matters that are solely within the discretion of the House of Representatives, such as the chamber slashing by almost P1.3 billion the 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre and Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon both issued statements censuring Villanueva for publicly attacking the decision of the House Committee on Appropriations to reduce to P733 million the budget of Vice President Sara Duterte for failure to address lawmakers’ concerns.
Acidre underscored the need for maintaining proper focus during the ongoing budget debates, saying Villanueva should just “concentrate on fortifying his arguments on the Senate floor, where the real discussions on the national budget will take place.”
“Rather than casting aspersions on the House for fulfilling its sworn duty, Sen. Villanueva should just allow us to craft the budget on our own terms and in the way we see fit. Darating din naman ito sa Senado so pwedeng doon niya ipahayag ang kanyang mga saloobin,” Acidre said.
“Kasi pag ngayon siya magsasalita laban sa desisyon ng House, baka maparatangan pa siya na ‘di niya kayang depensahan ang kanyang posisyon sa mga kapwa niya senador. Pangit po tingnan and we ask our dear senator to refrain from making statements to the media,” Acidre added.
Acidre noted that budget deliberations are central to the responsibilities of both chambers of Congress, stressing that the House has always exercised diligence in scrutinizing every aspect of the budget.
“It’s ironic that Sen. Villanueva criticizes the House for its handling of the OVP budget while failing to acknowledge that the Senate is also reviewing the same budget, including sensitive items,” Acidre added.
Villanueva recently criticized the House of Representatives for cutting the OVP’s proposed budget for 2025 from over P2 billion to just P733 million, raising concerns about the implications of the move, suggesting that the OVP should be shielded from political motivations.
However, House members have responded strongly, defending their actions as part of their constitutional mandate to review and adjust budget allocations to ensure accountability and proper use of public funds.
Bongalon, meanwhile, highlighted the violation of inter-parliamentary courtesy that Villanueva’s public comments represent.
"Sen. Villanueva's remarks about the House’s treatment of the OVP budget blatantly disregard the long-standing tradition of inter-parliamentary courtesy. Each chamber has its autonomy, and we expect the Senator to respect the House's jurisdiction in the same way that we respect the Senate’s role," Bongalon asserted.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining decorum in interchamber relations, noting that Villanueva's frustrations should be addressed within his own chamber.
“Instead of questioning the competence of the House, perhaps Sen. Villanueva should direct his concerns toward his fellow senators in their upcoming deliberations. Could it be that he anticipates difficulty defending his stance against more experienced and well-versed senators?” Bongalon questioned.
Both lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the integrity of the budget process, ensuring transparency, and holding all government agencies accountable, including the OVP.
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