MANILA – In an attempt to address concerns raised in a privilege speech, Vice President Sara Duterte made a surprise appearance before a House committee hearing on good government. However, she refused to take an oath and left the meeting before lawmakers could question her.

At the start of the hearing on Wednesday, September 18, resource persons were asked, “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you God?” But the Vice President objected.

“Witnesses lang po ang ino-oath. Sabi ninyo sa amin ngayon, resource persons kami,” Vice President Duterte told committee chairman, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua.

“Lahat po ay considered a resource person and witness,” Chua replied, serving as chairperson of the good government and public accountability committee.

Former President and Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo defended Duterte, citing a Supreme Court rule and a Senate precedent stating that a witness is granted more protection than a resource person because the former may be implicated.

Rep. Joel Chua then decided to place the former president’s comments on record.

“No Misuse of Funds”

During the hearing, Duterte asserted that there was no misuse of funds in the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

“There is no misuse of funds. If there are audit findings, we shall gladly respond to them before the Commission on Audit. And if there are legitimate cases to be filed, then we shall gladly respond to them before the appropriate courts,” Duterte said.

The Vice President reiterated her decision to defer to the House of Representatives’ leadership on whether or not to defend the OVP’s 2025 budget.

“I am not asking for any special treatment, nor am I asking you to uphold any tradition. There is no disrespect. All I am saying is that you have the complete freedom to do whatever you wish to the OVP budget,” Duterte added.

Duterte Accuses Solons of Building an Impeachment Case; Solon Calls VP’s Action a “Smokescreen”

Furthermore, during a hearing on a privilege speech by Manila 2nd District Rep. Rolando Valeriano, Duterte accused Solons of building an impeachment case against her, claiming she would remain “unbowed.”

“Sa totoo lang, hindi naman ang budget ang punterya ninyo, dahil napakadali naman magtanggal ng budget. What you are trying to do is make a case for impeachment,” Duterte said.

“You may try to destroy me, you can skin me alive, and throw my ashes to the wind, but let it be known, you will find me unbowed,” the Vice President added.

Valeriano’s speech, delivered during the House’s plenary session on September 3, was inspired by the 2025 budget hearing for the OVP.

According to the House leadership, there was no attempt to remove Duterte from the Vice Presidency.

In response, Rep. Valeriano accused Duterte of using her refusal to answer questions about the proposed OVP budget until 2025 as a “smokescreen” to evade queries about her use of public funds.

“Ang pagtanggi ni Vice President Sara Duterte na sagutin ang mga tanong tungkol sa kanyang panukalang budget at ang kwestyonable niyang paggastos sa mga nagdaang OVP budgets na sinita ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang mga dahilan kung bakit tayo narito ngayon,” Valeriano said.

“She expressly rejected any question about the OVP budget even before those questions were put forward,” Valeriano recalled.

“Her claim of leaving it to the House to do what it thinks is right is just a ‘palusot,’ a smokescreen, a cover because she does not want to provide proof for the numbers she stated in her PowerPoint presentation,” he added.

📷 House of Representatives of the Philippines