VP must submit to budget process

The House of Representatives committee on appropriations is in a quandary on what to do with the budget of the Office of the Vice President.

Vice President Sara Duterte put herself in an awkward position by snubbing the budget hearings because she perceived political motives were behind singling out the review of her office’s 2025 budget.

Financial accountability, however, is a key responsibility of heads of government offices. The failure to account for allocations is a serious offense. The budget process entails accountability in preparing budget plans, and failure or outright refusal to do so jeopardizes the whole office’s operations and could be a serious offense for dismissal. No one should get away with this violation without sanctions because every branch of government is expected to comply with this process.

Marvel K. Tan,
captbeloytan@gmail.com