Lawmakers over the weekend slammed Vice President Sara Duterte for skipping the November 20 Blue Ribbon hearing on her alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.
House leaders Jay Khonghun and Paolo Ortega said her plan to submit an affidavit was a calculated attempt to evade accountability.
The House Blue Ribbon Committee, formally known as the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, is investigating allegations of misused confidential funds—P500 million by the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million by the Department of Education under Duterte’s leadership.
Duterte attended the initial September 18 hearing but refused to take an oath, declined to answer questions, and departed after delivering a statement criticizing the inquiry. She has since skipped further hearings, citing constitutional issues and questioning the investigation’s significance.
Khonghun and Ortega stressed that Duterte’s choice to submit a written affidavit rather than attending in person weakens transparency and accountability.
“Walang masama sa affidavit. Pero ang problema ay ‘yung budol style niya—sinasabing hindi siya inimbitahan, pero ngayong may pagkakataon siyang linawin ang isyu, ayaw niyang humarap. Kung walang itinatago, bakit hindi kayang sagutin nang harapan ang tanong ng Kongreso at ng taumbayan?” Khonghun asked.
“Isang pambubudol na naman ito sa ngalan ng panawagang sumagot si VP Sara dahil gagamitin ang affidavit para makatakas at hindi na mag-appear sa hearing. Hindi ito sapat para linawin ang mga isyu ng confidential funds. Harapin niya ang mga tanong ng publiko at ng Kongreso,” Ortega also said.
Ortega warned that Duterte’s continued absence would only deepen public suspicion. “Kung magpapatuloy ang pag-iwas, lalong magdududa ang publiko. Huwag natin hayaan ang mga ‘budol’ tactics na maghari.”
Khonghun reminded Duterte of the value of public trust, urging her to reconsider. “As public servants, our duty is to the people. Vice President Duterte owes it to the Filipino people to provide answers—not just on paper, but in person,” he stressed. (TCSP)
