Duterte absent as House tackles OVP budget amid Senate trial

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte was absent from the House chamber during budget deliberations for the Office of the Vice President on Tuesday, marking a notable gap during discussions of her office's fiscal plan. The absence came as the lower chamber prepared to take up her spending proposal amid the ongoing impeachment proceedings against her in the Senate. An assistant secretary from the OVP was present to represent the office during the proceedings. The timing of Duterte's absence underscores the political tension surrounding her administration, as lawmakers navigate debates over her budget while her impeachment trial advances in the upper chamber. The House had scheduled the budget deliberations as part of its regular appropriations process, with various officials typically present to defend and explain their respective agency spending plans to the committee.