VP sa House hearing - paghahanda sa impeachment ang ginagawang imbestigasyon; iginiit... | 24 Oras

Summary

Vice President Sara Duterte appeared before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, addressing accusations of misuse of the Office of the Vice President's budget. While refusing to take an oath, she denied any wrongdoing and stated the investigation was politically motivated, aiming to discredit her ahead of the 2028 elections. The session saw heated exchanges between lawmakers, particularly over the classification of witnesses versus resource persons. Duterte further noted that her relationship with President Bongbong Marcos was strictly professional, and denied any plans to run with the Marcos family again.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Vice President Sara Duterte appeared before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability but did not take an oath.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The hearing was related to the budget spending of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), which was triggered by a privilege speech from Manila Representative Rolando Valeriano regarding alleged misuse of funds.
• ⚖️ There was a debate over the distinction between a 'witness' and a 'resource person' during the hearing, with Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo highlighting the differences as outlined by the Supreme Court.
• 🚫 VP Duterte argued that the inquiry was a politically motivated attack aimed at discrediting her name and office, and potentially setting up for an impeachment case.
• 📉 The House Appropriations Committee previously recommended a significant reduction in the OVP budget for 2025, citing concerns over the use of confidential funds in 2022.
• 🛡️ VP Duterte defended the OVP’s actions, stating there was no misuse of funds and that they were prepared to address any audit findings or legal cases in court.
• 🔍 VP Duterte suggested that the legislative inquiry was not genuinely about accountability or governance but rather an attempt to prevent her from future political contests.
• 🗨️ The VP also responded to Speaker Martin Romualdez's remarks on hypocrisy and evasion by officials regarding the budget issue.
• ❌ VP Duterte ruled out the possibility of running as a team with the Marcos family again in future elections, stating they were not friends and had no communication since her resignation from the Department of Education.
• 🗣️ There were heated exchanges between representatives during the hearing, notably between Representative Rodante Marcoleta and Manila Representative Benny Abante, regarding the VP's presence and the proposed OVP budget.

Q & A

Why did Vice President Sara Duterte appear before the House committee?

Vice President Sara Duterte appeared before the House committee to address questions related to the budget spending of her office. The inquiry was initiated following a privilege speech by Manila Representative Rolando Valeriano, who questioned the alleged misuse of funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Did Vice President Duterte take an oath during the hearing?

No, Vice President Duterte refused to take an oath during the hearing, citing that the House rules apply to witnesses, but she was appearing as a resource person. Despite this, the committee respected her decision.

What is the difference between a 'witness' and a 'resource person' as highlighted during the hearing?

Former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pointed out that the Supreme Court has ruled that a 'witness' and a 'resource person' are not the same, with witnesses subject to different protections. Vice President Duterte was classified as a resource person in the hearing.

What was Vice President Duterte's response to allegations of fund misuse?

Vice President Duterte denied any wrongdoing, asserting that no funds had been wasted and that her office was prepared to answer any audit findings or face any legal cases in court. She claimed the inquiry was politically motivated.

What political context did Vice President Duterte suggest was behind the inquiry?

Vice President Duterte suggested that the inquiry was a coordinated political attack aimed at discrediting her and her office to prevent her from participating in future political contests, specifically the 2028 elections.

What did Vice President Duterte say about her relationship with President Bongbong Marcos?

Vice President Duterte stated that she and President Marcos are not friends, and they only knew each other because they were running mates in the 2022 election. She also mentioned that they have not spoken since she resigned as Secretary of the Department of Education.

How did Vice President Duterte react to the possibility of being teammates with the Marcoses again?

When asked if she would consider teaming up with the Marcoses again in the future, Vice President Duterte firmly responded 'never.'

What was the nature of the discussion between Representatives Marcoleta and Abante during the hearing?

Representatives Rodante Marcoleta and Benny Abante had a heated exchange during the hearing. Marcoleta defended Vice President Duterte, arguing that the notice of disallowance regarding the OVP budget was contestable and could be answered within six months. Abante questioned Marcoleta's remarks, but Marcoleta clarified that he was not rebuking the committee.

What stance did Vice President Duterte take regarding future appearances before the committee?

Vice President Duterte stated that she was unsure if she would attend future committee hearings. Her attendance would depend on the actions of the committee moving forward.

What was the response of the House appropriations committee regarding the OVP budget for 2025?

The House appropriations committee recommended cutting the OVP budget for 2025 by over PHP 1 billion. Vice President Duterte responded by saying that Congress had the freedom to allocate the OVP budget as they saw fit.