Sara a ‘spare tire'? OVP spox says VP should be ready to assume presidency if needed
In a press conference, OVP spokesperson Ruth Castelo emphasized that the country needs a Vice President who is 'always ready to assume' the responsibilities of the President, in case anything happens to the latter and there is a need to assume the presidency.
'The mandate of the Vice President is the same as the mandate of the President. Lahat po ng nakalagay sa Constitution na trabaho ng Presidente, gano'n din ang trabaho ng Vice President. She is technically the assistant or when the President is absent, she takes over because she's the Vice President,' Castelo said.
OVP spox Ruth Castelo on the role of Vice President Sara Duterte: 'The mandate of the Vice President is the same as the mandate of the President. Lahat ng nakalagay sa Constitution na trabaho ng Presidente, ganon din ang trabaho ng Vice President.' @gmanews pic.twitter.com/QDLiJjUxyV — Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) July 16, 2025
'And the services that are now being delivered by the Vice President through her office is a way of preparing herself just in case any happens from now to 2028,' she added.
Section 8 of the 1987 Constitution states that the Vice President shall become the President to serve the unexpired term in case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Vice President was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
The articles of impeachment included her alleged conspiracy to assassinate President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez; and her supposed misuse of around P612.5 million worth of confidential funds.
Duterte, meanwhile, entered a 'not guilty' plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her, which she called merely a 'scrap of paper.'
OVP funds
Castelo further stressed that not supporting Vice President Sara Duterte by not funding her office's projects and programs is a 'great disservice' to the country.
'I'm sure all of us… would think that the Vice President, not necessarily VP Sara, all the Vice Presidents—past, present, and future—-are looked at as spare tire. But if you really think about it, the Vice President should be as prepared as the President. Should anything happen to him, who assumes the responsibility? It's the Vice President,' the recently appointed spokesperson said.
'Whoever the Vice President is, keeping her out of the loop or not being able to provide funds for her projects and programs, not being able to support the Vice President is a great disservice to the country,' she continued.
To recall, the House of Representatives decided to reduce the 2025 budget of the OVP from the originally proposed P2 billion to P733 million amid Duterte's refusal to answer lawmakers' questions on OVP budget use, including confidential funds.
The Senate retained the House-introduced budget cut despite calls from Duterte's allies to restore some of the OVP's proposed funding for social services.
For fiscal year 2026, Duterte's office initially made a proposal of P733 million, retaining the office's 2025 budget, but the Department of Budget and Management increased it to P803.6 million, which further grew to a total of P903 million, upon the request of the OVP. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
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