VP Sara to House members: I’m not a spoiled brat

Despite dodging questions of several lawmakers during the deliberations on the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Vice President Sara Duterte insisted that she is not a “spoiled brat” or acted like one.

In a recorded video interview, Duterte said that she wanted people to understand why she was not answering questions during the budget hearing at the House of Representatives, even as she acknowledged the Congress’ power to scrutinize her office’s proposed budget.

“Sanay ako na sumagot sa mga tanong sa mga bagay-bagay. Kaya nga nagbibigay ako ng interview kahit hindi siya arranged na interview, mga ambush interview ng media kung saan nakukuha nila yung mga katanungan ng taumbayan. Sanay ako sa ganyan,” she said.

(I'm used to answering questions about things. That's why I give interviews even though it's not arranged, as well as ambush interviews by the media where they ask questions from the people. I'm used to that.)

“At alam ng taumbayan na hindi ako ‘bratinella’ o spoiled brat dahil kilala nila ako simula noong ako ay nasa Davao pa, simula ng ako ay mayor pa hanggang naging Vice President ako. Kilala ako ng taumbayan na hindi ko inaabuso ang aking power and ang aking authority sa lahat ng mga opisina na nahawakan ko. Testigo ko ang buong bayan na hindi ako isang spoiled brat,” she added.

(The people know that I am not a 'bratinella' or spoiled brat because they have known me since I was still in Davao, since I was mayor until I became Vice President. The people know that I do not abuse my power and my authority in all the offices I have held. The whole country can testify that I am not a spoiled brat.)

Duterte said that some solons might have thought of her as a “bratinella” because she answered them in a way that they did not like.

She also said that the deliberation on the OVP’s proposed P2.037 billion budget for next year was being used by some House members to attack her because they are no longer political allies.

“Sa palagay ko, hindi lang sanay ang iilan na mga miyembro ng House of Representatives na hindi nila makuha ‘yung gusto nila at gusto nilang marinig na sagot. At hindi sanay ‘yung mga iilan na mga representatives natin na sinasagot sila sa kanilang mga patutsada. Kaya sa tingin ko, isa din itong parang atake din nila na parang: “Oh, bratinella ‘yan,” kahit na sumagot naman ako. Hindi nga lang sa gusto nila,” she said.

(I think that some members of the House of Representatives aren’t used to not getting what they want and what they want to hear. Some of them aren’t used to getting answers to their criticisms. So I think this was one of their attacks to say I’m a bratinella, even though I answered them. They just didn’t like my answer.)

The Vice President also underscored the importance of having the public know of the OVP’s budget proposal, which she said were uploaded on the OVP’s website and social media pages.

According to the OVP, the interview was conducted on September 4 in Manila, but no further details were given.

The House committee on appropriations earlier deferred deliberations on the OVP’s 2025 budget amid Duterte’s refusal to answer how her office uses its budget.

At the Senate, Senator Risa Hontiveros had also pointed out that a huge chunk of the OVP’s P1.909-billion sought budget for its operations was allotted for the delivery of socio-economic programs such as medical and burial assistance, disaster operations, food bags for certain families, and livelihood assistance.

The lawmaker and Duterte had a heated exchange after the former said these programs are “very similar” with the existing programs of other line agencies of the government. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News