Speaker Romualdez: VP Sara should attend hearings, explain confi funds
SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Thursday urged Vice President Sara Duterte to personally attend the ongoing House investigation into the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds under her leadership at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd).
“Eh ‘di dapat lang siyang sumipot at mag-oath at mag-salita at mag-eksplika dahil lahat ng mga opisyales niya… siya lang yata may alam kung anong nangyari diyan sa mga pondo eh kaya dapat siya ang mag-eksplika,” Speaker Romualdez said during an ambush interview in Albay.
The leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives said that Duterte should not pass the responsibility of explaining the funds in question to her subordinates.
“’Wag na niyang ibigay sa mga officials niya sa OVP at sa DepEd. Sana lang magsalita,” Speaker Romualdez said.
The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, also known as the Blue Ribbon Committee, has been investigating the alleged misuse of the funds, holding six hearings so far.
However, Duterte has only attended the first session, where she refused to take an oath and left after reading a prepared statement.
Several OVP officials described as part of Duterte’s “inner circle”—Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, Special Disbursement Officer Gina Acosta, and husband-and-wife Edward and Sunshine Charry Fajarda—have also failed to attend despite being summoned, prompting contempt citations and arrest orders.
The probe gained momentum when OVP Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Zuleika Lopez appeared during the sixth hearing under subpoena.
Her evasive answers, however, led to a contempt citation and detention for “undue interference in the proceedings.”
The committee, chaired by Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, has scheduled its next hearing for November 25.
Speaker Romualdez’s comments reflect growing frustration among lawmakers over Duterte’s absence and her delegation of critical questions to subordinates who reportedly lack direct knowledge of the funds’ disbursement.
Lawmakers have repeatedly called on her to take full accountability and provide clear explanations about how the P612.5 million in confidential funds were used.
The House leadership remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency and accountability, vowing to uncover the truth behind the disbursement and use of the controversial funds.
