Philippine Congress Slashes Vice President Duterte's Budget Amid Growing Rift with Marcos

The Philippine lower house has reduced Vice President Sara Duterte’s 2025 budget by nearly two-thirds, leaving her office with 733 million pesos. The decision follows tensions between Duterte and President Marcos, sparking speculation about their political alliance ahead of upcoming elections.

Rift Between Duterte and Marcos Jr. Shapes Budget Cuts Ahead of Philippine Midterm Elections

The proposed 2025 budget of the Philippines' lower house of Congress has reduced funding for Vice President Sara Duterte by nearly two-thirds. According to Reuters, this is amid next year's looming midterm elections, which are influenced by a significant rift between Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Chamber Speaker Martin Romualdez, a president's cousin, led the lower chamber in a 285-3 vote late on September 25 to approve budget spending of 6.352 trillion pesos ($113.5 billion) for 2025, a 10% increase from this year.

After over 1.3 billion pesos reduced the vice president's funding, Duterte's office was left with 733 million pesos.

"Our job will continue no matter what our budget is," Duterte told reporters on September 25.

Romualdez stated that the proposed budget, which must be reconciled with the Senate's version, would be sufficient to sustain the vice president's office's services.

Duterte was present in the lower houses only once during budget deliberations, and she vigorously opposed certain members of Congress examining her expenditures. Her subsequent absences elicited criticism and demands from lawmakers to substantially reduce or eliminate her budget.

"She was invited three times, but she did not show up," Romualdez said. "As representatives of the people, we expect all public officials to fulfill their duties, especially when it comes to the national budget."

Duterte’s Resignation Signals Breakdown of Marcos Alliance, Fuels Speculation Amid Budget Cuts

The vice president's function is primarily ceremonial, and they have no real power unless the president vacates office or appoints them to a cabinet position. Duterte served as the education secretary in Marcos' ministry until her resignation in June.

Her resignation signified the end of a political alliance that was once regarded as formidable between two of the country's most powerful dynasties. This alliance was instrumental in Marcos and Duterte's successful 2022 electoral campaigns.

According to political analysts, the budget reduction may indicate a more extensive political dispute between the two influential families rather than merely a reaction to her absence from hearings.

"It would be difficult to support the argument that the budget cut has nothing to do with the breakdown of the 'Uniteam'," said Ederson Tapia, professor of public administration at the University of Makati, referring to the Marcos-Duterte ticket.

"The battle lines have been drawn and I expect to see more skirmishes in the run-up to the midterm elections and especially moving towards 2028 (presidential election)," Tapia added.