Ex-president Duterte's tirades vs. House puzzling, says majority leader

House Majority Leader Manuel Dalipe said former President Rodrigo Duterte's statement calling the House of Representatives a "rotten institution" has left a number of lawmakers wondering.

In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Dalipe said House members supported the former leader's administration and gave it sufficient funding.

He surmised Duterte's attacks had to do with the removal of confidential funds of several government departments and agencies in the proposed 2024 budget, including that of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) under his daughter, Sara Duterte.

“Sinuportahan namin siya lahat, todo-todo sa lahat ng mga kailangan niya, sa legislative agenda niya. Nagtataka kami bakit ngayon iba na tingin niya sa aming mga kongresista," Dalipe said.

"Siguro nakita niya na may binago sa Office of the Vice President, pero hindi lang naman Office of the Vice President 'yung may change,” he added.

The House leader said the realignment of confidential funds did not only affect the OVP, but other civilian agencies as well.

The proposed budget is still being deliberated at the Senate.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News