VP Sara Duterte on House probe into OVP funds: Politically motivated

Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives hearing on her office’s proposed budget for 2025.

BACOLOD CITY — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday claimed that the House of Representatives’ probe into the alleged misuse of the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) funds is “politically motivated.”

In a press conference at the OVP satellite office in Bacolod City, Duterte slammed the House committee on good government and public accountability that cited four of her staff for contempt for repeatedly refusing to attend the hearing on OVP fund utilization.

Duterte said her staff were busy preparing for activities, especially the OVP’s 89th anniversary on Nov. 15.

She also claimed that the hearings were designed to find fault by those wishing to impeach her.

“They have no evidence of wrongdoing. They are attempting to find fault through the hearings. They are working to destroy the integrity of the Office of the Vice President and its ordinary employees,” she said.

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Duterte also said she has no problem with her being under fire.

“What hurts me is when they destroy ordinary people who are just doing their jobs,” she added.

She again claimed that House Speaker Martin Romualdez wanted to run for president and if he could not make it through the popular vote, he would push for Charter Change and run as prime minister.

Asked if she is running for president in 2028, Duterte said that is not in her plans yet.

“December 2026 would be the best time to decide for the 2028 polls,” she added.