House leaders slam VP Duterte for plan to skip probe

VP Sara Duterte —Richard A. Reyes

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives on Sunday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for planning to skip the November 20 hearing on confidential funds before the House Blue Ribbon Committee.

On Friday, Duterte announced that she would not attend the investigation into the alleged misuse of funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd), which she previously headed.

Instead, she stated that she would respond to the findings through a written affidavit.

“I won’t attend the next hearings. I already went there… but we plan to send a letter [and] we plan to say why. And then, I plan as well to submit an affidavit about the confidential funds since the affidavit [is done] under oath,” Duterte told reporters on Friday.

READ: VP Duterte declines invite to House hearing

House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales Rep. Jay Khongkun described Duterte’s move as a “deliberate evasion of 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 expressed in a statement on Sunday.

(There’s nothing wrong with the affidavit. But the problem is with her deceitful approach—claiming that she wasn’t invited, but now that she has the chance to clarify the issue, she refuses to face it. If there’s nothing to hide, why can’t she answer the questions of Congress and the public directly?)

The same sentiment was echoed by House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V, saying that the affidavit submission was simply a “tactic to avoid scrutiny.”

“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 said on Sunday.

(This is another form of deceit under the guise of a call for VP Sara to answer, using the affidavit as an excuse to escape and avoid appearing at the hearing. This is not enough to clarify the issues surrounding the confidential funds. She should face the questions of the public and Congress.)

The House leaders further noted that Duterte attended the initial hearing on Wednesday, September 18 but declined to take an oath as a resource person, refused to answer questions from lawmakers, and left the session early after delivering a brief statement criticizing the investigation.

“She has since skipped subsequent hearings, citing constitutional concerns and questioning the investigation’s necessity,” they added.

According to Khongkun, the committee has extended ample opportunities for Duterte to explain the utilization of public funds allocated to her office.

In fact, the November 20 hearing invitation was personally handed to Duterte during a House quad committee hearing on Wednesday, November 13, which was attended by her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Ang tanong ng taongbayan: Nasaan ang malinaw na paliwanag?” Khonghun questioned.

(Now, the people have questioned: Where is the clear explanation?)

Moreso, Ortega cautioned that the vice president’s continued absence from the probe could further intensify public doubt.

“Kung magpapatuloy ang pag-iwas, lalong magdududa ang publiko. Huwag natin hayaan ang mga ‘budol’ tactics na maghari,” the lawmaker said.

(If this avoidance continues, the public will only become more suspicious. Let’s not allow these ‘scam’ tactics to prevail.)

Khonghun appealed to Duterte to reconsider her decision, emphasizing the critical role of transparency in maintaining public trust.

“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,” the House leader stressed.