Politics · Philippines Bureau
Senate Finance Committee to Observe Protocol During OVP Budget Deliberations
The Senate finance committee will uphold parliamentary courtesy when reviewing the 2027 budget request from Vice President Sara Duterte's office, according to committee chair Senator JV Ejercito. The move comes as the Senate simultaneously handles impeachment proceedings against the Vice President.
LSN Philippines ·
MANILA — The Senate finance committee will maintain traditional parliamentary procedures when deliberating on the Office of the Vice President's 2027 budget allocation, its chairman announced Sunday. Senator JV Ejercito said the committee would extend customary courtesies to Vice President Sara Duterte during budget hearings, despite ongoing political tensions.
The Upper Chamber is currently conducting hearings on an impeachment complaint filed against Duterte while simultaneously advancing discussions on the proposed national budget. Ejercito's commitment to observing parliamentary decorum signals the Senate's intent to separate budget deliberations from the impeachment proceedings.
The dual proceedings represent a complex political situation, with lawmakers balancing institutional protocols against the gravity of impeachment charges. The Senate's approach suggests an effort to maintain procedural normalcy in budgetary matters even as the chamber addresses the separate legal challenge against the Vice President.
The 2027 budget will require full Senate approval before proceeding to the President for final consideration. Budget hearings are expected to continue over the coming weeks as committees systematically review allocations across different government agencies and offices.
Photo: Senator JV Ejercito, official portrait, July 2025. Office of Senator JV Ejercito via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).