Windows26: Weekend Roundup: House panel cuts VP Duterte’s budget, Harris-Trump debate, and more

Hello, reader!

Vice President Sara Duterte, Apollo Quiboloy, and Alice Guo were the most talked-about personalities this week, as they faced issues related to budget, human trafficking, and national security, respectively.

This is your Weekend Roundup, your weekly fix for everything you need to catch up.

SLASHED BY OVER A HALF

Duterte's budget

The House committee on appropriations unanimously decided to slash the proposed P2.03-billion budget for Vice President Sara Duterte by over a half, slicing off allocations for "redundant" and inefficient programs for the administration's "spare tire" who had riled lawmakers by snubbing their budget hearings.

Duterte's travails continued this week in Congress, with her absence in the House budget hearing forcing lawmakers to propose either a cut or transfer of funds she requested for her office, while senators recounted her alleged misuse of nearly a third of the Department of Education's allocation in 2023, her last full year as its head.

The vice president did not show up at the House hearing on the Office of the Vice President's (OVP) proposed 2025 budget, and instead sent a letter to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co stating that they have submitted all necessary documents.

Duterte in a video message said she does not mind having the OVP totally defunded, as she sees it as part of an alleged coordinated attack against her. "We also heard that it's possible they will only give the [OVP] a budget of only P1. We are ready. I am ready in the [OVP] to work even without a budget," Duterte said in Filipino in the video.

INQFOCUS

Human trafficking

The most serious criminal case filed against Apollo Quiboloy was qualified human trafficking, a nonbailable offense. Human trafficking, by itself, is already a very serious crime. But according to the law, trafficking is even more severe when it is considered "qualified." Learn more about it in this explainer by Kurt dela Peña.

COUNTERINSURGENCY

With CHEd, DOST?

When government agencies closely tied to academics and science disclosed their involvement in a task force known for red-tagging, it raised alarm among lawmakers, advocacy groups, and educational institutions. Here's what you need to know about their involvement in counterinsurgency, as covered in this special report by Cristina Eloisa Baclig.

ON MY RADAR

Ten must-reads

Marcos: Let Quiboloy face PH cases first
Highlights: Alice Guo at Senate hearing
Teodoro resignation rumors not true, says Palace
Donald Trump, Kamala Harris clash in fiery presidential debate
Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president after Trump debate
What are the 'Silver Star Tickets' for Olivia Rodrigo's upcoming Manila show?
76th Emmys: 5 standout shows to watch
iShowSpeed draws massive crowd in Manila and BGC, forced to end stream
Best dressed stars from the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards
Column of the Week: Defense of the 'aspin'

INQToday: Apollo Quiboloy pleads not guilty in human trafficking case

Self-appointed "Son of God" Apollo Quiboloy pleaded not guilty to a qualified human trafficking charge before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court on Friday.

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Sincerely,

Samuel Yap

Digital Content Distribution

September 14, 2024

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