Lawmaker to Sara Duterte: ‘Stop using OVP officials as shields’

Rep. Manuel Jose Dalipe | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Congressman Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte should stop her victim mentality and attend the House probe on the alleged misuse of her office and the Department of Education’s P612.5 million in confidential funds under her watch, instead of using her staff “as human shields,” according to a lawmaker.

Majority Floor Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe’s Thursday statement came after Duterte aired out her sentiments, saying that her staff and officials did not deserve the scrutiny brought by the House committee on good government and public accountability hearings.

READ: Romualdez urges Sara Duterte to attend OVP fund probe

“Huwag kang pa-victim. Tama na ang pambubudol (Stop playing the victim. Stop trying to trick others). The Vice President should stop using her staff as human shields. It is about time she face Congress, answer the questions and stop blaming others for her failures and fear of accountability,” Dalipe said.

“The Vice President has been hiding while letting her staff take the heat. This is pure cowardice disguised as victimhood,” he added.

So far the panel has already conducted six hearings on the alleged misuse of government funds.

Despite the continued appeal for her attendance to the probe, Duterte only appeared once but refused to take an oath and did not address questions thrown by lawmakers against her related to the issue.

“After six hearings, why has she refused to appear again? Instead, she sends career officials who have no personal knowledge of how these funds were used,” Dalipe said.

Instead, the vice president was seen attending the House quad committee hearing on the previous administration’s brutal drug war when her father — former chief executive Rodrigo Duterte — attended last November 13.

Among the Office of the Vice President officials who initially refused to attend the probe, were Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, Special Disbursing Officer Gina Acosta, and husband-and-wife Edward and Sunshine Charry Fajarda.

During the latest hearing, Lopez appeared before the committee, but her evasive answers led lawmakers to cite her for contempt and detained in House premises for “undue interference in the proceedings.”

“Instead of addressing the questions head-on, Vice President Duterte spins a narrative to paint herself as a victim of political persecution. The truth is, this isn’t about politics—it’s about accountability,” Dalipe said.

“Seeking the truth is not an attack—it is our responsibility as public officials entrusted with the people’s money,” he stressed.

Also on Thursday, House Speaker Martin Romualdez urged the vice president to show up in the next hearing if she feels bad about her personnel having to answer questions on confidential fund expenses.

Similarly, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon and 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez told Duterte to face the allegations against her office.